From a very old borrowing from the 12th century, from Nupe Sòkó, a high ranking deity of the sky and rain, who was also closely associated with lightning. This may be the origin of the stories that associate Ṣàngó with the Nupe people, including stating his mother to be of Nupe origin. Compare with Gbagyi shengo. His worship was possibly absorbed by older Yoruba cults of lightning, thunder, jurisprudence divinities like Jàkúta and Ọ̀ràm̀fẹ̀, merging to become the "modern" Ṣàngó cult.