In Fon mythology, Gu is the god of iron and war.
Gu is a major vodun of the Fon people of the historic Dahomey region, centered in present-day Benin. He is especially linked with ironworking, weapons, blacksmiths, craftsmen, and military power. Because iron tools enabled farming, building, hunting, and warfare, Gu’s influence reached far beyond the forge.
Fon traditions describe Gu as a culture hero sent to make the earth more suitable for human life. His association with iron explains why he is portrayed as a divine smith and as a force that gives cutting power to blades and tools. Some traditions connect him with Mawu-Lisa, the creator power of the Fon pantheon.
Gu is easily confused with Ogun, the Yoruba deity of iron and war. The two figures overlap because West African religious traditions influenced one another, and Ogun is also called Gu or Ogou in some wider Vodun contexts. In a specifically Fon mythology question, however, Gu is the clearest canonical answer. His neighboring Fon counterpart Legba is chiefly associated with mediation and crossroads, not ironworking.