Yemaya

Yemaya, also written Yemajá or Iemanjá, is a major orisha in the Yoruba religion and in diaspora Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Brazilian traditions. She is associated with the sea, motherhood, and fertility. In many myths, Yemayá is the mother of all living beings and the queen of the ocean; she provides protection to families, especially to children and expectant mothers, and is invoked for healing and comfort in times of distress. Her domains encompass the sea's life-giving and dangerous forces, including tides, storms, and maritime trade.

In ritual practice, Yemayá is commonly depicted with blue and white colors and imagery of the sea, fish, waves, and seashells. Offerings to Yemayá often include flowers, fruits, perfumes, sea salt, candles, and mementos placed at altars or offered to the sea. Prayers, songs, dances, and processions form a core part of her worship. Festivals honoring Yemayá are prominent in Brazil's Candomblé and Umbanda communities, as well as in Cuba's Santería and related Afro-Latin religious movements, where she sometimes goes by the name Iemanjá or Yemayá. In Brazil, large public celebrations at beaches, particularly on certain feast days, are widely observed.

Historically, Yemayá originates in Yoruba cosmology and has become a central figure in transatlantic religious networks. She exemplifies maternal protection and the life-sustaining power of water, while also reflecting the dangers of the sea.