He attempted to seize the throne after the demise of Ọbàtálá, who reigned twice, before and after Oduduwa, but was ousted by Obalufon Ogbogbodirin and sent on an exile – an event that serves as the core of the Ọlọ́jọ́ Festival.

In some traditions, he is said to have cleared a path for the other orisha to enter Earth, using a metal axe and with the assistance of a dog.

Ogun is the traditional deity of warriors, hunters, blacksmiths, technologists, and drivers in the Yoruba region.

Followers of traditional Yoruba religion can swear to tell the truth in court by "kissing a piece of iron in the name of Ogun.

Ogun altars and ceremonies display and use iron objects both in Yoruba areas and across the African diaspora.

Dogs are the traditional companions of hunters, but Ogun's personality is also seen as "doglike": aggressive, able to face danger, and straightforward.

Other sacrificial animals associated with Ogun are the spitting cobra (blacksnake); its behavior is aggressive and fearless.

Other important sacrificial offerings to Ogun are the Clarias submarginatus (a species of catfish), alligator pepper, kola nuts, palm wine and red palm oil, small rats, roosters, salt, snails, tortoise, water, and yams.

Translation: In Dahomey religion, Gu is the vodun of war and patron deity of smiths and craftsmen.

[10][11] Acaçá is a ritual food offered to all gods in the Candomble pantheon; it is made of a paste of corn mash steamed in banana leaves.

This variation is only offered to Ogum in the Casa Fanti Ashanti temple in São Luís, in the state of Maranhão.

[14] In Haitian Vodou Ogun is known as Ogou and consists of an array of manifestations; most carry the aspect of iron smithing and tools from the Yoruba tradition.

Ogou is also the god of pioneering, intelligence, justice, medicine, and political power; these are associated with the symbol of the tool that can "advance humans' mastery over the environment.

The body of Ogou Fèray is covered with knives, The body of Fèray is covered with machetes.Léo Neto, et al. observed various kinds of animals used in sacrificial ritual in twelve Candomblé communities of Caruaru, Pernambuco and Campina Grande, Paraíba in the Northeastern region of Brazil between August 2007 and June 2008; dogs were the only sacrificial animal offered to Ogun in both communities.