Bishop Ajayi Crowther & His Misrepresentation of Eshu

[Friday13thx]

Why Did Bishop Ajayi Crowther Translate Eshu as Satan in the Yoruba Bible? And—Who Is Eshu in Other Pagan Traditions?

The translation of Eshu as “Satan” in the Yoruba Bible by Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther is one of the most consequential and controversial acts of religious translation in African history. Understanding this fully requires examining both the linguistic choice and the spiritual identity of Eshu.

1. Crowther’s Decision: Historical Context:

Bishop Crowther, a Yoruba man and the first African Anglican bishop, worked in the 19th century under the authority of British colonial missionaries. In his effort to make Christianity relatable to Yoruba speakers, he needed local equivalents for biblical figures—including Satan.
Eshu, in Yoruba religion, is the divine trickster, messenger, and guardian of the crossroads. He delivers sacrifices to the gods and ensures justice is balanced through cause and effect. Because of his unpredictable nature—sometimes testing humans, sometimes deceiving the unjust—Crowther likely saw Eshu as a parallel to the Christian Devil.
However, this was a profound mistranslation.

In Yoruba belief:

Eshu is not evil.
Eshu is not the enemy of humanity.
Eshu is a necessary, sacred figure who enforces divine balance.

Crowther’s labeling of Eshu as Satan was influenced by:

Colonial pressures to demonize traditional deities.
Christian theology that dichotomized good vs. evil, unlike Yoruba cosmology.
Evangelical strategies aimed at replacing indigenous religion with Christianity.

The result was a spiritual distortion—Eshu became demonized in the eyes of many Yoruba Christians, causing widespread misunderstanding of traditional beliefs.

2. Who Is Eshu in Other Pagan Traditions?

Across global pagan and esoteric traditions, Eshu is not “Satan” in the Abrahamic sense, but he shares traits with various trickster gods and liminal spirits found in other cultures.

Here are close analogues:

1. Hermes (Greek) – Messenger of the Gods:

Also a trickster, god of communication and crossroads.
Patron of travelers and thieves.
Like Eshu, he moves between the mortal and divine realms.

2. Elegua / Legba (Afro-Caribbean / Haitian Vodou):

Derived directly from Eshu.
Opens the roads and gates between humans and the spirits (Loa/Orisha).
Must always be petitioned first—just as Eshu is.

3. Loki (Norse Mythology):

Trickster god known for testing boundaries, bringing chaos and eventual order.
Though not evil, he plays a role in the destruction and renewal cycles—much like Eshu enforcing divine justice.

4. Mercury (Roman) – Mirror of Hermes:

Known for speed, wit, commerce, and divine messages.
Also guides souls between realms.

These parallels highlight that Eshu is part of a global archetype: the trickster-messenger-deity who:

Brings balance through disruption.
Tests humans to reveal truth.
Guards sacred thresholds.

Spiritual Importance Today:

In post-colonial spiritual movements, especially within Afrocentric and left-hand path traditions, there's a growing effort to restore Eshu’s true role:

As a sacred mediator, not a devil.
As a powerful ally, not an enemy.
As a guardian of spiritual gateways, not a tempter into evil.

Eshu's misrepresentation was not just a theological mistake—it was a tool of cultural erasure.
Modern practitioners, from Yoruba traditionalists to neo-pagans and theistic Satanists, are now reclaiming his legacy.
Eshu ≠ Satan.
Eshu is balance, motion, communication, and divine justice.

Crowther’s decision may have been strategic or pressured, but it blurred the line between god and demon—a line Yoruba cosmology never confused.

So while Satan may be equated by some with Zeus, Enki, Odin, or Shango as divine rebels or forces of enlightenment, Eshu stands uniquely as the keyholder of cosmic cause and consequence, reflected around the world in Hermes, Legba, Loki, and more.

Hail Zeus!!!
Hail Satan!!!
Hail the 4 Crowned Princes of Hell!!!
Hail JoS/ToZ!!!

 

[Helleniser]

Thank you for this analysis, Christianity and Islam have unfortunately destroyed the diverse cultures of Africa.

 

[Starješina]

Thank you for this analysis, Christianity and Islam have unfortunately destroyed the diverse cultures of Africa.

That is an indisputable claim. What is important to point out is the fact that both Christianity and Islam were the leading ideologies behind the enslavement of the African people. Abrahamic apologetics and some other people often like to point out that religion exists to promote peace and understanding between human beings when their idiotic systems are rightfully attacked. In other words, Christianity and Islam should be granted immunity against criticism because no matter what the followers of these twisted beliefs do, it is never the fault of their religions.

I can point out the obvious verses in both the shitty Bible and the Quran where things like slavery, land theft and genocide are not only justified but also commanded, but the Christards and Mudslimes would then pull out some mental gymnastics while trying to convince me how I misunderstood the passages. But if you simply say that Satan is cool, they will react as if you killed 6 million Jews.

The church spearheaded the colonization process and was actively involved in slave trades, as we know from the example of South America (a place that became a literal grinder of races and cultures) and Western Africa. They tried the same thing in Japan with Jesuit missionaries who got purged by the great Emperor Tokugawa. Ironically, the churches arrogance and assistance to Spanish sailors in colonization and enslavement of some Japanese, who got sent to South America, were the main reasons why Japan eradicated them during his rule. They succeeded in stealing the African resources but failed to do so in Japan.

And of course, I cannot leave the mudslimes out of this. They conducted their own slave trade since the advent of Pisslam, which at some glance, might be even more grim and cruel than the previously mentioned colonization. It also lasted much longer; in some countries, like the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia they had black slaves up to mid-point of the 20th century. And just like the Bible, Quran is filled with curses and slanders against black people (Zanj), which they used to justify their crimes. There were also some rebellions, such as the Zanj Rebellion, which resulted in the Abbasid Caliphate dwindling in terms of power.

Luckily, there have been some African leaders like Jomo Kenyatta who highlighted the obvious, but Africa also had their own traitors just like European have had their own. If you look at the map above, you can see Mali as the country where the slave trade was the strongest. Mansa Musa, whom some blacks shill for because he is a "great" African king, generated his enormous wealth by selling his own people to the Arab slave traders. Somehow, Christianity and Islam how the power to turn traitors in some kind of national heroes, which you can also see in the examples of Charlemagne and Constantine.

Sadly, the Jewish faiths of Christianity and Islam have really messed up the ways some black people think, which is why you have silly groups such as Black Hebrew Israelites who think that they are the chosen people in the book (Bible), where they are cursed - similar to the "we wuz Jews" whites that follow Christian Identity. As well as Black Nation of Islam, which was founded by a mongrel/mixed Jew, and which black people in America follow, even though Quran also curses them just like the Bible and was behind the justification for their suffering and enslavement.

 

[Helleniser]

Luckily, there have been some African leaders like Jomo Kenyatta who highlighted the obvious, but Africa also had their own traitors just like European have had their own. If you look at the map above, you can see Mali as the country where the slave trade was the strongest. Mansa Musa, whom some blacks shill for because he is a "great" African king, generated his enormous wealth by selling his own people to the Arab slave traders. Somehow, Christianity and Islam how the power to turn traitors in some kind of national heroes, which you can also see in the examples of Charlemagne and Constantine.

I've noticed that many traitors have received the title "the Great". Constantine, Theodosius, Justinian, Boris, Vladimir, and others.

 

[Starješina]

I've noticed that many traitors have received the title "the Great". Constantine, Theodosius, Justinian, Boris, Vladimir, and others.

Who can forget Olaf the "Great".

 

[Wotanwarrior]

I've noticed that many traitors have received the title "the Great". Constantine, Theodosius, Justinian, Boris, Vladimir, and others.

On the other hand, others who were good rulers and tried to prevent the advance of Christianity and Islam have been completely stigmatized and all kinds of lies have been invented about them.
Attila, Eric Haralsson of Norway, and Vlad Dracula are good examples.

 

[Helleniser]

On the other hand, others who were good rulers and tried to prevent the advance of Christianity and Islam have been completely stigmatized and all kinds of lies have been invented about them.
Attila, Eric Haralsson of Norway, and Vlad Dracula are good examples.

You're right, this is especially true for Emperor Julian.

 

[Starješina]

On the other hand, others who were good rulers and tried to prevent the advance of Christianity and Islam have been completely stigmatized and all kinds of lies have been invented about them.
Attila, Eric Haralsson of Norway, and Vlad Dracula are good examples.

Sometimes I think we should have a special "Traitor's Hall of Shame" section, akin to the Personalities ones that we have for the legendary people in the history of mankind, but with the difference being that the former would present the mentioned traitors as enemies and opportunists, highlighting how their shame assisted in making our world suffer so much.