Obatala and Yemaya by Kypris Aquarelas
In Brazil, the yoruba deity Obatala goes by the name Oxalá, a contraction of the expression "Orixalá", meaning "the Great Orisha". In afrobrazilian traditions this Orisha commonly takes two forms: Oxaguian, an youthful and impetuous warrior that likes eating yam and Oxalufan, an old wise man that uses a staff called Opaxorô. The greatest of the yoruba gods, Obatala is an Orisha Funfun (white-wearing deities), he is connected to the Forces of Creation, peace, purity, order and in Brazil it's a common practice to save fridays, his sacred day, avoiding to eat red meat, having intercourse and drinking alcohol. Some of his symbols are the Alá (a white cloth), the igbin (an african snail), the white dove, the Sky and the Sun.
Oxalá is a figure of utmost importance to most of the afrodiasporic religions. His cult is present in religions such as Umbanda, Candomblé, Batuque de Nação, Tambor de Mina, Santeria, Omolokô and many others. He's also syncretized with other proeminente divine figures: the Nkisi (deity) Lembá Dilê worshipped in Bantu Traditions and with Jesus Christ.
One of his most known pontos (prayers) says:
"Oxalá created the Earth,
Oxalá created the Sea,
Oxalá created the World
Where the Orishas reign (...)"
Yemoja, Yemaya or Iemanjá is the name of a major yoruba deity. Her name comes from the expression Yé Yé Omó Ejá: "Mother whose Children are the Fish". Yemaya is an Orisha connected to fertility, maternity, to good mental health and to the sustenance of life. In brazilian lands, she was crowned as the Queen of the Seas, but in reality she's connected to all bodies of water - fresh or sea ones. Her most known symbols are the fishes, the abebé (a fan-like object), sea shells and pearls, the Moon, the colors White, silver and blue. In nigerian lands, she's the goddess of the river Ogun.
Her worship is presente in most of the afrodiasporic religions such as Umbanda, Candomblé, Batuque de Nação, Tambor de Mina, Santeria, Omolokô and many others. Yemaya was syncretized with many catholic saints such as Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Cabeza, Our Lady of Glory and Our Lady of Navigants. She's also syncretized with other african deities, such as the Nkise Kaiala.
To Yemaya, we sing:
"My brother, when you hear
In the distance a beautiful song,
There must be the Angels from Paradise
or the Mermaid of the Sea..."
