Ọya
| Ọya | |
|---|---|
Storms, wind, thunder, lightning, the dead | |
| Member of Orisha | |
 Iansã Sculpture at the Catacumba Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Other names | Oyá or Oiá; Yàńsàn-án or Yansã; and Iansá or Iansã |
| Venerated in | Yorùbá religion, Umbanda, Candomble, Quimbanda, Santeria, Haitian Vodou, Folk Catholicism |
| Symbol | lightning, the sword or machete, the flywhisk, water buffalo |
| Color | purple or red/burgundy, the rainbow |
| Region | Nigeria, Benin, Latin America |
| Ethnic group | Yorùbá |
| Personal information | |
| Spouse | Shango |
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| Yorùbá people |
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Ọya (Yorùbá: Ọya, also known as Oyá or Oiá; Yàńsàn-án or Yansã; and Iansá or Iansã in Latin America) is an orisha of winds, lightning, and violent storms, death, and rebirth.[1] She is similar to the Haitian lwa Maman Brigitte who is syncretized with the Catholic Saint Brigit.
In Yorùbá, the name Ọya is morphologically coined from "O ya" which means "she tore."[2] She is known as Ọya-Ìyáńsàn-án, the "mother of nine", because of nine children she gave birth to, all stillborn, suffering from a lifetime of barrenness. She is the patron of the Niger River (known to the Yorùbá as the Odò-Ọya).[3]
Candomblé
In Candomblé, Oya is known as Oiá, lyá Mésàn, or most commonly, Iansã, from the Yoruba Yánsán. Iansã, as in Yoruba religion, commands winds, storms, and lightning. She is the queen of the river Niger and the mother of nine. She is a warrior and is unbeatable. Attributes of Iansã include great intensity of feelings, sensations, and charm. Another ability attributed to Iansã is control over the mysteries that surround the dead.[4] Iansã is syncretized with Saint Barbara.[5] In the Candomblé nação (association) of Angola Congo, Iansã is associated with the color red.[6]
Characteristics
- Salutation: "Eeparrei!", or "Epahhey, Oia!"
- Consecrated day: Thursday
- Colors: red, purple and rainbow, burgundy
- Symbols: "Buffalo tail" eruquerê, a ritual object; or a copper sword
- Prohibitions: pumpkin, stingray, and mutton
- Food: acarajé/àkàrà[7]
Ritual foods
Acarajé is a spherical patty made with peeled, crushed black-eyed peas, stuffed with small shrimp, okra, crushed peanuts, and other savory, piquant spices. The ball-like patty is fried in dendê oil (Red palm oil). It's a traditional Afro-Brazilian dish that is also a traditional offering to Iansã in the Candomblé tradition. A simple, unseasoned form of acarajé is used in rituals and a version served with various condiments is sold as a common street food in Bahia in the northeast of Brazil. Ipeté and bobo de inhame are also associated with Iansã.[6]
In Yorùbá, her food is pronounced 'Àkàrà". Eggplant, mulberries, pudding, and dark chocolate are also foods for Oya.
See also
Bibliography
- Judith Gleason, Oya, San Francisco: Harper, 1992 (Shamballah, 1987), ISBN 0-06-250461-4
- Charles Spencer King, Nature's Ancient Religion, ISBN 978-1-4404-1733-7
References
- ^ Adeoye, C. L. (1989). Ìgbàgbọ́ àti ẹ̀sìn Yorùba (in Yoruba). Ibadan: Evans Bros. Nigeria Publishers. p. 303. ISBN 9781675098.
- ^ Machacek, David W.; Melissa M. Wilcox, eds. (2003). Sexuality and the World's Religions. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781576073599. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ^ A Bahia de Santa Bárbara Archived 22 November 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Obaràyí : babalorixá Balbino Daniel de Paula. Salvador, Bahia, Brasil: Barabô Design Gráfico e Editora. 2009. p. 568. ISBN 9788562542008.
- ^ Henry, Clarence Bernard (2008). Let's Make Some Noise: Axé and the African Roots of Brazilian Popular Music. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781604730821.
- ^ a b Barbosa, Ademir (2015). Dicionário de Umbanda. São Paulo: Anubis. pp. 108–109, 240. ISBN 9788567855264.
- ^ Araujo, Carlos de (1993). ABC dos orixás (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Nordica. pp. 72–74. ISBN 9788570072252.
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