Orixás

Orixás are a class of powerful spiritual beings in the Yoruba religious tradition and in Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin American religious practices that descend from Yoruba culture. They are considered intermediaries between humans and Olodumare (the supreme creator) and are believed to have distinct personalities, domains, and symbolic products. Followers honor them through specialized rites, offerings, music, and dance, and they may be invoked for guidance, protection, or healing.

Originating in the Yoruba-speaking regions of West Africa, the concept of orixás spread to the Americas and the Caribbean through the transatlantic slave trade. In diaspora religions such as Candomblé (Brazil), Umbanda (Brazil), and Santería/Lucumí (Cuba), the orixás remain central to worship, often organized around priesthoods and family lineages.

Notable orixás include Ogun (iron and war), Shango (thunder and leadership), Yemayá/Yemoja (the sea and motherhood), Oshun (love and rivers), and Obatala (wisdom and justice). Some accounts also emphasize Oduduwa as a progenitor figure. Olodumare is regarded as the supreme creator from whom the orixás derive, acting as distinct divinities or energies that influence different aspects of life and nature.

Ritual practice involves drumming, singing, and dance, with offerings such as food, drink, flowers, and other objects appropriate to each orixá. Possession of practitioners by the orixás during ceremonies is a common form of communication and blessing, guided by trained priests and priestesses in various traditions.

In many diaspora communities, orixás are syncretized with Catholic saints, reflecting historical intersections of religion and culture. The practice remains a core element of identity and spirituality for communities connected to Yoruba religious heritage.