Yemaja is an orisha, originally of the Yoruba religion, who has become prominent in many African-American religions. Hoodoo is a form of predominantly African-American traditional folk magic. An Orisha (also spelled Orisa or Orixa) is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God in the Yoruba spiritual The Yoruba religion is the religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people both in Africa (chiefly in Nigeria and Benin Republic) Afro-American religions (also African diasporic religions) are a number of related Religions that developed in the Americas among African Africans from what is now called Yorubaland brought Yemaya and a host of other deities/energy forces in nature with them when they were brought to the shores of the Americas as captives. She is the ocean, the essence of motherhood, and a protector of children.
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Name variants
Because the African-American religions were transmitted as part of a long oral tradition, there are many regional variations on the goddess's name. She is represented with Our Lady
- Africa: Yemoja, Ymoja, Iemanja Nana Borocum, Iemanja Bomi, Iemanja Boci
- Brazil: Yemanjá, Iemanjá, Janaina
- Cuba: Yemaya, Yemayah, Iemanya
- Haiti: La Sirène, LaSiren (in Vodou)
- USA (New Orleans Voodoo): Yemalla, Yemana
In some places, Yemaja is syncretized with other deities:
- Mami Wata
- Nana Buluku
- Nanã
- La Diosa del Mar
Africa
In Yorùbá mythology, Yemoja is a mother goddess; patron deity of women, especially pregnant women; and the Osun river (the waters of which are said to cure infertility). vodoo, vodun, or vodoun may refer to any of West African vodun, a west African religion Haitian vodou, mostly derived Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought Mami Wata is a pantheon of water Spirits or deities, venerated in West, Central, and Southern Africa Nana Buluku is the Supreme Deity of the Fon from Dahomey. Nana Buluku is an androgynous deity Nana Buluku is the Supreme Deity of the Fon from Dahomey. Nana Buluku is an androgynous deity The Yoruba religion is the religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people both in Africa (chiefly in Nigeria and Benin Republic) A mother goddess is a Goddess, often portrayed as the Earth Mother who serves as a general Fertility deity the bountiful embodiment of the Earth. A tutelary spirit or patron deity serves as the guardian of or an entity to watch over and protect a particular site person culture or nation Pregnancy ( Latin graviditas) is the carrying of one or more offspring known as a Fetus or Embryo, inside the Uterus of a Female Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Her parents are Oduduwa and Obatala. Oduduwa, phonetically written as Odùduwà, and sometimes contracted as Odudua, Oòdua, is generally held among the Yoruba to be the ancestor Obatala is also a genus of spiders ( Amaurobiidae) In Yoruba orisha (also spelt orisa There are many stories as to how she became the mother of all saints. She was married to Agayu and had one son, Orungan, and fifteen Orishas came forth from her. In Yoruba mythology, Orungan was the son of Yemaja and Aganju. An Orisha (also spelled Orisa or Orixa) is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God in the Yoruba spiritual They include Ogun, Olokun, Shopona and Shango. For the Togolese prefecture see Ogou Togo. In Haitian Vodou and Yoruba mythology, Ogun (or Ogoun Olokun is considered the patron Orisa of the descendants of Africans that were carried away during the Maafa, or what is Other stories would say that Yemaya was always there in the beginning and all life came from her, including all of the orishas.
Her name is a contraction of Yoruba words: "Yeye emo eja" that mean "Mother whose children are like fishes". Yoruba (native name èdè Yorùbá, 'the Yoruba language' is a Dialect continuum of West Africa with over 25 million speakers This represents the vastness of her motherhood, her fecundity and her reign over all living things.
Yemaya is celebrated in Ifá tradition as Yemoja. Divination process Special instruments are used to assist in the Divination to transcribe Orunmila 's wisdom through the diviner [1] As Iemanja Nana Borocum, or Nana Burku, she is pictured as a very old woman, dressed in black and mauve, connected to mud, swamps, earth. [2] Nana Buluku is an ancient god in Dahomey mythology. Nana Buluku is the Supreme Deity of the Fon from Dahomey. Nana Buluku is an androgynous deity VodouThe Dahomey (or Fon) are a nation located in Benin, Africa.
Brazil
The goddess is known as Yemanjá, Iemanjá or Janaína in Brazilian Candomblé[3] and Umbanda religions. Candomblé (pronounced /kɐ̃dõˈblɛ/is an African-originated or Afro-Brazilian religion practiced chiefly in Brazil. Basic beliefs and practices The Umbanda creeds and practices are an eclectic mixture from three main sources from Catholicism Umbanda adopted the ideas of
The Umbanda religion worships Iemanjá as one of the seven orixás of the African Pantheon. Basic beliefs and practices The Umbanda creeds and practices are an eclectic mixture from three main sources from Catholicism Umbanda adopted the ideas of An Orisha (also spelled Orisa or Orixa) is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God in the Yoruba spiritual She is the Queen of the Ocean, the patron deity of the fishermen and the survivors of shipwrecks, the feminine principle of creation and the spirit of moonlight. An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. A syncretism happens between the catholic Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes (Our Lady of the Seafaring) and the orixá Iemanjá of the African Mithology. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described An Orisha (also spelled Orisa or Orixa) is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God in the Yoruba spiritual Sometimes, a feast can honor both[4][5].
In Salvador, Bahia, Iemanjá is celebrated by Candomblé in the very day consecrated by the Catholic church to Our Lady of Seafaring (Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes)[6]. Salvador (historic name São Salvador da Baía de Todos os Santos, in English "Holy Savior of All Saints' Bay" is a City on the northeast coast of Candomblé (pronounced /kɐ̃dõˈblɛ/is an African-originated or Afro-Brazilian religion practiced chiefly in Brazil. Every February 2 thousands of people line up at dawn to leave their offerings at her shrine in Rio Vermelho. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor
Small boat with Iemanjá image, flowers and gifts
Gifts for Iemanjá usually include flowers and objects of female vanity (perfume, jewelry, combs, lipsticks, mirrors). These are gathered in large baskets and taken out to the sea by local fishermen. Afterwards a massive street party ensues.
Iemanjá is also celebrated every December 8 in Salvador, Bahia. Salvador (historic name São Salvador da Baía de Todos os Santos, in English "Holy Savior of All Saints' Bay" is a City on the northeast coast of The Festa da Conceição da Praia (Feast to Our Lady of Conception of the church at the beach) is a city holiday dedicated to the catholic saint and also to Iemanjá. Another feast occur this day in the Pedra Furada, Monte Serrat in Salvador, Bahia, called the Gift to Iemanjá, when fishermen celebrate their devotion to the Queen of the Ocean. Salvador (historic name São Salvador da Baía de Todos os Santos, in English "Holy Savior of All Saints' Bay" is a City on the northeast coast of
Outside Bahia State, Iemanjá is elebrated mainly by Umbanda religion. Bahia (baˈia is one of the 26 States of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast Basic beliefs and practices The Umbanda creeds and practices are an eclectic mixture from three main sources from Catholicism Umbanda adopted the ideas of
On New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro, millions of cariocas dressed in white gather on Copacabana beach to greet the New Year, watch fireworks, and throw flowers and other offerings into the sea for the goddess in the hopes that she will grant them their requests for the coming year. New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year and the day before New Year's Day. Rio de Janeiro ("River of January" ˈhiw dʒi ʒʌˈnejɾu in Brazilian Portuguese, /ˈriːoʊ di ʒəˈnɛroʊ/ in English is the second largest city of Brazil Carioca ( is a Portuguese Adjective or Demonym word that refers to the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Some send their gifts to Iemanjá in wood toy boats. Paintings of Iemanjá are for sale in Rio shops, next to painting of Jesus and other catholica saints. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described They portray her as a woman rising out of the sea. Small offerings of flowers and floating candles are left in the sea on many nights at Copacabana.
In São Paulo State, Iemanjá is celebrated in the two first weekends of December in the shores of Praia Grande city. São Paulo ( is the largest city in Brazil, with its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world Praia Grande is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. During these days many vehicles garnished with Iemanjá icons and colors roam from the São Paulo mountains to the sea littoral, some of them traveling hundreds of miles. Thousands of people rally near iemanjá statue in Praia Grande beach. Praia Grande is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil.
In Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, at February 2, the image of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes is carried to the port of Pelotas. Pelotas is a Brazilian city the third most populous in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. (ʁiu ˈgɾɐ̃de do ˈsuɫ lit "Large River of the South" is the southernmost State of Brazil, and the State with the fourth highest Human Development Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Before the closing of the catholic feast, the boats stop and host the Umbanda followers that carry the image of Iemanjá, in a syncretic meeting that is watched by thousand of people in the shores[7]. Basic beliefs and practices The Umbanda creeds and practices are an eclectic mixture from three main sources from Catholicism Umbanda adopted the ideas of
Cuba and Haiti
She is venerated in Vodou as LaSiren. vodoo, vodun, or vodoun may refer to any of West African vodun, a west African religion Haitian vodou, mostly derived Mami Wata is a pantheon of water Spirits or deities, venerated in West, Central, and Southern Africa
In Santería, Yemayá is seen as the mother of all living things as well as the owner of all waters. Santería, also known as La Regla de Lukumi (Lukumi's Rule and The Way of the Saints is an Afro-Cuban religious tradition derived from traditional beliefs Her number is 7 (a tie into the 7 seas), her colors are blue and white (representing water), and her favorite offerings include melons, molasses ("melaço" - sugar cane syrup), whole fried fishes and pork rinds. She has been syncretized with Our Lady of Regla.
Yemaja has several caminos (paths). At the initiation ceremony known as kariocha, or simply ocha, the exact path is determined through divination. Her paths include:
- Ogunte: In this path, she is a warrior, with a belt of iron weapons like Ogun. This path lives by the rocky coastliness. Her colors are crystal, dark blue and some red.
- Asesu: This path is very old. She is said to be deaf and answers her patrons slowly. She is associated with ducks and still or stagnant waters. Her colors are pale blue and coral.
- Okoto: This path is known as the underwater assassin. Her colors are indigo and blood red and her symbolism includes that of pirates.
- Majalewo: This path lives in the forest with the herbalist orisha, Osanyin. She is associated with the marketplace and her shrines are decorated with 21 plates. Her colors are teals and turquoises.
- Ibu Aro: This path is similar to Majalewo in that she is associated with markets, commerce and her shrines are decorated with plates. Her colors are darker; indigo, crystal and red coral. Her crown (and husband) is the orisha Oshumare, the rainbow.
- Ashaba: This path is said to be so beautiful that no human can look at her directly.
In the Kongo religions, such as Palo Mayombe, Palo Monte, Kimbisa and Briumba, she is known as Mà Lango, or Madré D'Agua—Mother of Waters. Palo, or Las Reglas de Congo are a group of closely related denominations or religions of largely Bantu origin developed by slaves from Central Africa in Palo, or Las Reglas de Congo are a group of closely related denominations or religions of largely Bantu origin developed by slaves from Central Africa in Palo, or Las Reglas de Congo are a group of closely related denominations or religions of largely Bantu origin developed by slaves from Central Africa in
In popular culture
The worship of Yemanja by the fishermen of Bahia, Brazil, is a central element of the 1936 Modernist novel "Mar Morto" ("Sea of Death") by the famous Brazilian writer Jorge Amado, himself a native of that State. Bahia (baˈia is one of the 26 States of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The first modern novel has generally been ascribed to a series of Picaresque Novels, most famously Don Quixote (1605 by Cervantes Mar Morto ( Sea of Death) is a Brazilian Modernist novel. It was written by Jorge Amado in 1936 |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Jorge Amado de Faria ( August 10, 1912 &ndash August 6, 2001) was a Brazilian Writer of the Modernist school The book's wide publicity and translations to various languages made this goddess well-known to many people around the world - for example in Israel, where Hebrew books and songs make references to Yemaja, inspired by Amado's work (see Hebrew Wikipedia page [5]). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics.
In 1994, A House Music track was produced, arranged and written by Little Louie Vega and his wife at the time, La India, called "Love & Happiness (Yemaya Y Ochún)" which features a Cuban chant/prayer dedicated Yemaya and her sister Ochún. House music is a style of Electronic dance music initially popularized in mid-1980s Discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino Luis Fernando Vager (1965-) better known as "Little" Louie Vega, is one half of the Masters At Work musical production team La India (born Linda Viera Caballero on March 9, 1970) is a noted Grammy Award - and Latin Grammy Award -nominated Singer It is considered a House music classic by many critics, and is always very well received. The song can be found on Cream Classics Volume 2, or Renaissance: The Mix Collection [Disc 1].
As Yemanja, the goddess is also a very prominent subject of veneration by a Brazilian chef in the 2000 romantic comedy Woman on Top. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.
References
External links
- Yemaya - The Great Mother
- Photos of the celebration on flickr
- Yemanja, goddess of the sea - Brazilian relationship to oceans
- Yemaya - ICSF's Newsletter on Gender and Fisheries
- Alawoye.com Baba'Awo Ifaloju, showcasing Ifa using web media 2. 0 (blogs, podcasting, video & photocasting)
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