Orishas / Santería / Yoruba

Santería

is a blend of the Yoruba religion, which honors 401 Orishas (gods) with the Catholicism of the Spanish colonizers. Read a brief introduction here.

Orishas

are Yoruban Afro-Cuban Santeria deities.  For breakdown of players, go here  and here.

Orishas call upon individual people to be their followers, their chosen people, and sometimes their priests. Santeros (in Cuba that means the 80% of Cubans who follow the faith) can call on various Orishas for guidance and most people have their favorites.

¡Bienvenidos Blancos! includes visits from Obatalá and Iku but here are some more Orishas who considered joining us tonight. They have their own dances and powers and who can be found in other Patakí.

• Eleggua is represented by a small child who is the one who opens the roads of life.

• Orula is a wise sage and master diviner who decides peoples’ destinies.

• Changó is the orisha of music, dance, drumming, fire, lightning, war.

• Yemayá is one of most powerful orishas, mother of all living things and ruler of all water.

• Ogun is a fierce warrior who defends his people and fights against injustice.

• Ochun is the youngest/newest orisha and much like Aphrodite or  Venus represents love, beauty and sensuality.