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Oya

Oya is a major orisha in Yoruba religion and in Afro-Caribbean syncretic traditions such as Santería (Regla de Ocha) and Candomblé. She presides over winds, storms, and change, and is closely associated with transformative processes in life, including birth and death. In many lineages she is linked to the cemetery and the ancestral realm, serving as a guardian of passages and transitions.

In myth and practice, Oya is often described as a fierce and independent warrior goddess. She is

Worship of Oya varies by region and tradition. Devotees honor her with dances, songs, and offerings, and

The name Oya is also used as a given name within Yoruba-speaking communities and across the African

commonly
identified
as
the
wife
of
Shango,
the
god
of
thunder,
and
is
regarded
as
a
powerful
matron
among
the
orisha.
She
is
revered
as
a
protector
of
women,
a
patron
of
those
undergoing
change,
and
a
facilitator
of
renewal
and
decisive
action.
invoke
her
for
courage,
protection,
and
favorable
change.
She
is
associated
with
winds,
storms,
and
the
energy
of
transformation
in
many
lineages,
and
is
often
depicted
as
a
dynamic,
commanding
presence
within
the
pantheon.
diaspora,
reflecting
her
role
as
a
symbol
of
power,
change,
and
vitality.
In
broader
popular
culture,
the
name
and
the
deity
are
frequently
invoked
to
evoke
resilience
and
renewal
in
the
face
of
upheaval.