Olókun

Olókun, also spelled Olokun, is a major water deity (orisha) in the Yoruba religion of southwestern Nigeria. He or she is associated with the sea, the depths, and the vast oceans, and is commonly linked to wealth, fertility, and the hidden riches of the deep. In different lineages Olókun may be conceived as male, female, or androgynous, and is sometimes described as the ruler of the deep sea rather than a single gender.

Name and domain: The name Olókun is frequently translated as "lord of the sea" or "owner of the depths." As ruler of the sea’s mysteries and wealth, Olókun embodies abundance as well as danger and the unknowable aspects of the ocean.

Worship and cult: Olókun is revered in Yoruba communities and in Afro-Caribbean religious movements such as Candomblé and Santería. Devotion often centers on rites near large bodies of water and may involve offerings that symbolize sea wealth, protection, and purification. Rituals can emphasize the sea’s power, storms, and the trust placed in the orisha by fishermen and sailors.

Relations and iconography: In many traditions Olókun is connected with Yemayá (Yemoja), the mother of waters. The two are sometimes viewed as complementary or rival forces—one governing the surface and rivers, the other the deep sea and its hidden riches. Depictions and attributes vary by community.

Legacy: Across the Yoruba diaspora, Olókun remains a central figure in Afro-Caribbean religion, invoked for wealth, protection at sea, and access to the sea’s bounty.