Orishas

Orisha Oko Origins: Yoruba CLASSIFICATION: Orisha Orisha Oko is most commonly described as a former hunter who decided to farm instead. He is closely associated with rituals of agricultural magic. In standard

Logunedé, primarily venerated in Brazil, is the child of Oxum Iponda, a forest dwelling path of Oshun and either Erinle or Oxossi. Logunedé spends half the year living in the river with

Olokun, primordial ruler of the sea, bestows fertility, healing, abundance, and wealth. Olokun’s identity, gender, and even function depend upon where his/her myth is told. In Nigeria, Olokun is the rich, powerful

Olosa is the presiding spirit of the Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria. Olosa may be Olokun’s sister and/or wife. She may or may not also be Yemaya’s child. She is the guardian of

Omolu CLASSIFICATION: Orixa Omolu is a Brazilian path of the West African spirit also known as Babalu Ayé. Omolu not only transmits disease but can heal any illness. ICONOGRAPHY: His hair and

Ora Queen of the Sea ORIGIN: Yoruba CLASSIFICATION: Orisha Ora is so beautiful that Olokun took one look at her and fell madly in love. They married. She remains his favourite of

Orunmila : The Sky Knows Who Will Prosper Orunmila is the sacred diviner. He is the master of Ifa, a complex, sacred system of divination. He also taught people cowrie shell divination.

Osain ALSO KNOWN AS: Osanyin ORIGIN: Yoruba CLASSIFICATION: Orisha Osain has one eye and one arm. He hops around like a bird on one leg. He does have two ears: one is

Oshumare is a rainbow serpent originally from Benin (Dahomey), now also venerated in African Diaspora traditions. Oshumare may be part of an ancient triad including Nana Buruku and Babalu Ayé. The three

Oxala (pronounced oh-shala) is a Brazilian corruption of the Yoruba Orisha-Nla, another name for Obatala. Oxala and Obatala are the same deity, although details of their veneration may differ depending on location