In the Cuban Santería/Ocha tradition, this “axe” (hacha) serves the same ritual function as the oṣé in West African Yorùbá religion and the oxê in the Brazilian Candomblé religion, where it is carried by the possessed priest of the god of thunder, lightning and fire during sacred festivals. Note, however, this object is NOT what Cubans call an Oché, the Spanish or Lucumí cognate of oṣé. Rather, for Cubans, Oché is a distinct spirit being who accompanies and assists the Cuban god of thunder, and lightning, Changó.