The Orishas
The Orishas are deities that are sent from the almighty Olorun to rule over nature and the human world. Similar to the Gods of ancient Greece and Rome, the Orishas of the Yoruba faith have been oppressed and not brought forward in mainstream culture.
Ori(sha)is the Yoruba word for head. This can be a head in a physical sense, like the head on our bodies, or with a more spiritual sense. In Yoruba culture, the head can also stand for supremacy and elite status.
The Orishas of the Yoruba faith can depict representations of nature, such as the sea or lightening and thunder. They can also be representative of more holistic concepts such as fertility and healing (Morton-Williams,1966).
The Almighty Orishas of the Yoruba Faith
Obtala- Deity of Earth, humankind, and purity
Shango- God of Thunder, Lightening, & War
The Almighty Orishas of the Yoruba Faith