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Yemọja (also: Yemaja, Yemanjá, Yemoyá, Yemayá; there are many different transliterations in other languages) is the major water spirit from the
Yoruba religion The Yorùbá religion (Yoruba language, Yoruba: Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), West African Orisa (Òrìṣà), or Isese (Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), comprises the traditional religious and spiritual concepts and practice of the Yoruba people. Its homeland is in pres ...
. She is the mother of all
Orisha Orishas (singular: orisha) are divine spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Haitian Vaudou, Cuban Santería and Brazilian Candomblé. The p ...
s. She is also the mother of humanity. She is an orisha, in this case patron spirit of rivers, particularly the
Ogun River The Ogun River ( Yoruba: Odò Ògùn) is a waterway in Nigeria that discharges into the Lagos Lagoon. Ogun State of Nigeria is named after the river. Course and usage The river rises near the towns of Sepeteri and Shaki in upper Oyo State at ...
in Nigeria, and oceans in Cuban and Brazilian orisa religions. She is often syncretized with either
Our Lady of Regla Our Lady of Regla, otherwise known as Our Lady of the Rule and The Virgin of Regla, is a Marian apparition of the Catholic Church venerated in various Hispanic countries such as: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Spain. In contrast to other Maria ...
in the
Afro-Cuban Afro-Cubans () or Black Cubans are Cubans of full or partial sub-Saharan African ancestry. The term ''Afro-Cuban'' can also refer to historical or cultural elements in Cuba associated with this community, and the combining of native African a ...
diaspora A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of birth, place of origin. The word is used in reference to people who identify with a specific geographic location, but currently resi ...
or various other
Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...
figures of the
Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
, a practice that emerged during the era of the
Trans-Atlantic slave trade The Atlantic slave trade or transatlantic slave trade involved the transportation by slave traders of enslaved African people to the Americas. European slave ships regularly used the triangular trade route and its Middle Passage. Europeans est ...
. Yemọja is said to be motherly and strongly protective, and to care deeply for all her children, comforting them and cleansing them of sorrow. She is said to be able to cure infertility in women, and cowrie shells represent her wealth. She does not easily lose her temper, but when angered she can be quite destructive and violent, as the flood waters of turbulent rivers. Some of the priests of Yemọja believe that she used her fresh water to help Ọbàtálá in the molding of human beings out of clay. Yemọja is often depicted as a mermaid by a number of devotees, and is associated with water, feminine mysteries, and the moon in some diaspora communities. She is the protector of women. She governs everything pertaining to women; parenting, child safety, love, and healing. According to myth, when her waters broke, it caused a great flood creating rivers and streams and the first mortal humans were created from her womb.


Name variants

* Yoruba: Yemọja, Yemaja, Iyemọja, Yemọnja, Iyemọnja, Iyemẹja or Yemẹja in some Yorùbá dialect variants * Portuguese phonetic spellings of Brazil: Yemanjá, Iemanjá, Janaína, Mãe da Água *
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
phonetic spelling of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other Spanish speaking countries: Yemojá, Yemayá, Yemallá *
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
terms for mermaid spirits: La Sirène, Mère de L'Eau * Pidgin/Creole Languages:
Mami Wata Mami Wata, Mammy Water, or similar is a mermaid, water spirit, and/or goddess in the folklore of parts of Western Africa, Eastern Africa, and Southern Africa. Historically, scholars trace her origins to early encounters between Europeans and ...
*
Trinidad Orisha Trinidad Orisha, also known as Orisha religion and Shango, is a syncretic religion in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, originally from West Africa (Yoruba religion). Trinidad Orisha incorporates elements of Spiritual Baptism, and the clos ...
: Yemonjá *
Louisiana Voodoo Louisiana Voodoo, also known as New Orleans Voodoo, was an African diasporic religion that existed in Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to ...
: Yemeya


Africa

In traditional Yoruba culture and spirituality, ''Yemọja'' is a mother spirit; patron spirit of women, especially
pregnant Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring gestation, gestates inside a woman's uterus. A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Conception (biology), Conception usually occurs ...
women; She is the patron deity of the
Ogun river The Ogun River ( Yoruba: Odò Ògùn) is a waterway in Nigeria that discharges into the Lagos Lagoon. Ogun State of Nigeria is named after the river. Course and usage The river rises near the towns of Sepeteri and Shaki in upper Oyo State at ...
(Odò Ògùn) but she has other rivers that are dedicated to her throughout Yorùbáland. In addition, she is also worshipped at almost any stream, creek, springs in addition to wells and run-offs. Her name is a contraction of the Yoruba words ''Iye'', a dialect variant of "ìyá" meaning "mother"; ''ọmọ'', meaning "child"; and ''ẹja'', meaning "fish"; roughly translated the term means "mother of fish children". This represents the vastness of her motherhood, her fecundity, and her reign over all living things. The river deity Yemoja is often portrayed as a mermaid, even in West Africa, and she can visit all other bodies of water, but her home and the realm she owns are rivers and streams, especially the Ogun River in Nigeria. River deities in Yorubaland include Yemo̩ja, Ọ̀ṣun (Oshun), Erinlè̩, Ọbà, Yewa, etc. It is Olókun that fills the role of sea deity in Yorubaland, while Yemoja is a leader of the other river deities.


Americas

In West Africa, Yemoja is worshipped as a high-ranking river deity, but in Brazil and Cuba she is worshipped mainly as a sea/ocean deity.


Brazil

In
Candomblé Candomblé () is an African diaspora religions, African diasporic religion that developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between several of the traditional religions of West and Central Africa, especi ...
and
Umbanda Umbanda () is a religion that emerged in Brazil during the 1920s. Deriving largely from Kardecist spiritism, Spiritism, it also combines elements from African diasporic religions, Afro-Brazilian traditions like Candomblé as well as Roman Catho ...
, Yemanjá is one of the seven Orixás. White roses are used as a ritual offering. She is the ''Queen of the Ocean'', the patron spirit of the fishermen and the survivors of shipwrecks, the feminine principle of creation, and the spirit of moonlight. Saturday is the consecrated day of Yemanjá. *Colors: light blue and crystal *Ritual garment color: light blue *Ritual jewelry or necklace: crystalline beads *Ritual salutation: Odô-Iya, Erù-Iya, Odôfiaba *Symbols: shells, sea stones


Syncretism

In Brazil, Yemanjá is syncretized with
Our Lady of Navigators Our Lady of Navigators also known as Our Lady of Seafarers (''Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes'' in Portuguese) is a devotional title given to the Virgin Mary by Roman Catholics. It is a widespread devotion in South America, especially in Brazil, ...
(Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes) and
Our Lady of the Conception The Immaculate Conception is the doctrine that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. It is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Debated by medieval theologians, it was not defined as a ...
(Nossa Senhora da Conceição).


Sacred objects

Sacred objects associated with Yemanjá that are placed in the pegi, the room or space dedicated to an orixá, include: *Dishes and porcelain *Earthen basins *Fruits: obi (''
Cola acuminata ''Cola acuminata'' is a species in the genus ''Cola'', of the family Malvaceae, native to tropical Africa. It is generally known for its fruit, the kola nut, originally used to impart the cola flavor in manufactured beverages, such as Coca-Col ...
'') and the bitter kola nut (''
Garcinia kola ''Garcinia kola'' (bitter kola, a name sometimes also used for ''Garcinia afzelii, G. afzelii'') is a species of flowering plant belonging to the Mangosteen genus Garcinia of the family Clusiaceae (a.k.a. Guttiferae). It is found in Benin, Came ...
'') *White jars or pitchers *White medals or coins


Ritual sacrifice

Guinea fowl, ducks, hens, she-goat are sacrificed ("orô") on festival days associated with Yemanjá in the Candomblé tradition. Animals sacrificed to Yemonja must be thrown in the water for their disposal.


Ritual foods

*Angu, manioc or maize flour boiled in water or milk *Corn meal *Lelé, a drink of white corn meal boiled in coconut milk *Obi, the fruit of ''Cola acuminata'' *Onion, referred to as ''alubaça'' *Rice *White corn


Festivals

*In
Salvador, Bahia Salvador () is a Municipalities of Brazil, Brazilian municipality and capital city of the Federative units of Brazil, state of Bahia. Situated in the Zona da Mata in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of Brazil, Salvador is recognize ...
, Iemanjá is celebrated by Candomblé on the same day consecrated by the Catholic Church to Our Lady of Seafaring (Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes). Every February 2, thousands of people line up at dawn to leave their offerings at her shrine in
Rio Vermelho Rio Vermelho is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. The city belongs to the mesoregion Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Conceição do Mato Dentro. As of 2020, the estimated population was 12,7 ...
. Gifts for Iemanjá include flowers and objects of female vanity (perfume, jewelry, combs, lipsticks, mirrors). These are gathered in large baskets and taken out to the sea by local fishermen. Afterwards a massive street party ensues. *In
Pelotas Pelotas () is a Brazilian city and Municipalities of Brazil, municipality (''município''), the fourth Largest cities in Rio Grande do Sul by population, most populous in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, after Porto Alegre, Caxias do Su ...
,
Rio Grande do Sul Rio Grande do Sul (, ; ; "Great River of the South") is a Federative units of Brazil, state in the South Region, Brazil, southern region of Brazil. It is the Federative units of Brazil#List, fifth-most populous state and the List of Brazilian s ...
State, on February 2, the image of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes is carried to the port of Pelotas. Before the closing of the Catholic feast, the boats stop and host the Umbanda followers that carry the image of Iemanjá, in a syncretic meeting that is watched by thousand of people on the shore. *Iemanjá is also celebrated every December 8 in
Salvador, Bahia Salvador () is a Municipalities of Brazil, Brazilian municipality and capital city of the Federative units of Brazil, state of Bahia. Situated in the Zona da Mata in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of Brazil, Salvador is recognize ...
. The Festa da Conceição da Praia (Feast to Our Lady of Conception of the church at the beach) is a city holiday dedicated to the Catholic saint and also to Iemanjá. Another feast occurs on this day in the Pedra Furada, Monte Serrat in
Salvador, Bahia Salvador () is a Municipalities of Brazil, Brazilian municipality and capital city of the Federative units of Brazil, state of Bahia. Situated in the Zona da Mata in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of Brazil, Salvador is recognize ...
, called the ''Gift to Iemanjá'', when fishermen celebrate their devotion to the Queen of the Ocean. *In
São Paulo State SAO or Sao may refer to: Places * Sao civilisation, in Middle Africa from 6th century BC to 16th century AD * Sao, a town in Boussé Department, Burkina Faso * Serb Autonomous Regions (''Srpska autonomna oblast'', SAO), during the breakup of ...
, Iemanjá is celebrated in the two first weekends of December on the shores of
Praia Grande Praia Grande is a municipality in the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Region, on the southern coast of the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is part of the Immediate Region of Santos and its population measured in the IBGE census review in 2010 ...
city. During these days many vehicles garnished with Iemanjá icons and colors (white and blue) roam from the São Paulo mountains to the sea littoral, some of them traveling hundreds of miles. Thousands of people rally near Iemanjá's statue in Praia Grande beach. *On
New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve refers to the evening, or commonly the entire day, of the last day of the year, 31 December, also known as Old Year's Day. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinkin ...
in Brazil, millions of Brazilians, of all religions, dressed in white gather on the beaches to greet the New Year, watch fireworks, and throw white flowers and other offerings into the sea for the goddess in the hopes that she will grant them their requests for the coming year. Some send their gifts to lemanjá in wooden toy boats. Jumping seven waves is also common. Paintings of lemanjá are sold in Rio shops next to paintings of Jesus and Catholic saints. They portray her as a woman rising out of the sea. Small offerings of flowers and floating candles are left in the sea on many nights at Copacabana.


Cuba

In
Santería Santería (), also known as Regla de Ocha, Regla Lucumí, or Lucumí, is an African diaspora religions, Afro-Caribbean religion that developed in Cuba during the late 19th century. It arose amid a process of syncretism between the traditional ...
or regla de ocha, Yemayá is the mother of all living things as well as the owner of the oceans and seas. *Colors: There are many roads to Yemayá, Okute, Asesú, Achabá and Mayelewo are some of them, and each one has a color combination having all blue as a common denominator. *Ritual garment color: Blue. *Ritual number: Seven. *Ritual jewelry or necklace: Seven blue beads followed by seven crystalline beads. *Ritual salutation: Omío Yemayá *Symbols: Shells, sea stones, fish, fishnets, anchors, everything that pertains to the sea.


Ritual sacrifice

When ducks, roosters and rams as four-legged animals.


Ritual foods or adimús

*Cane syrup, called ''melado'' in Spanish. *Watermelon. *''Malarrabia'', a Cuban dessert. *''Gofio,'' flour made from roasted grains. *Pork rinds.


Festivals

*In
Havana, Cuba Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.Regla Regla () is one of the 15 municipalities or boroughs (''municipios'' in Spanish) in the city of Havana, Cuba. It comprises the town of Regla, located at the bottom of Havana Bay in a former aborigine settlement named ''Guaicanamar'', Loma Modelo ...
, home of Our Lady of Regla Church, which takes place around that date, which is a tradition that was initiated by slaves
Cabildos Cabildo may refer to: Buildings * The Cabildo, a historic building in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. * Cabildo of Buenos Aires, a historical building in Argentina, government house during colonial times * Cabildo of Jujuy, a National Historic Monu ...
and their descent, namely Susana Cantero -Omí Toké- and Pepa Herrera -Echu Bí-. *It is common for regla de ocha initiated priests and priestess to keep a vigil for Yemayá on September 6 which is called ''vísperas''.


Uruguay

In
Montevideo Montevideo (, ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,302,954 (about 37.2% of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
, worshippers gather on Ramírez Beach in the
Parque Rodó Parque Rodó is both a ''barrio'' (neighbourhood or district) of Montevideo, Uruguay and a park which lies mostly outside the limits of the barrio itself and belongs to Punta Carretas. The name "Rodó" has been given in memory of José Enrique Rod ...
neighborhood every February 2 to celebrate Iemanjá Day. Hundreds of thousands sit waiting for the sunset before they launch small boats with offerings into the ocean. In 2015, the Uruguayan government estimated that 100,000 people had visited the beach for the celebrations.


In popular culture

* In ''
Smite ''Smite'' is a 2014 free-to-play third-person multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna.Yoruba pantheon. * In the fifth episode of the third season of ''
American Gods ''American Gods'' (2001) is a fantasy novel by British author Neil Gaiman. The novel is a blend of Americana (culture), Americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on the mysterious and taciturn Shad ...
'', Bilquis is enlightened by Yemoja. *In
Ishmael Reed Ishmael Scott Reed (born February 22, 1938) is an American poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, composer, playwright, editor and publisher known for his Satire, satirical works challenging American political culture. Perhaps his best-known wor ...
's '' Mumbo Jumbo'', the character Earline is supposedly possessed by Yemanjá. * In the CD by the Bobby Sanabria Big Band, ''Afro-Cuban Dream: Live & In Clave!!!'' (2000), the song "Olokun" is dedicated to the violent aspect of Yemaya who is chained down in the depths of the ocean and is suddenly awakened. * During the
Miss Universe 2016 Miss Universe 2016 was the 65th Miss Universe pageant, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines on January 30, 2017. This was the second time that the pageant skipped a year, after Miss Universe 2014 was held i ...
beauty pageant,
Miss Venezuela Miss Venezuela (Spanish: ''Organización Miss Venezuela'') is a Venezuelan beauty pageant operated by the Cisneros Group. Founded in 1952, it currently selects Venezuelan representatives to Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International. ...
Mariam Habach wore a national costume entitled "Reina encantada del mar", inspired by the myth of Yemayá. The costume, which weighed more than 18 kilos and was made of 120 meters of organza with hundreds of pearls and crystals, was so huge that it hampered her movements and forced her to constantly kick her dress forward, to the point that she got stuck in the fabric and had to be assisted off stage. *In the 2021 fantasy novel ''
Skin of the Sea ''Skin of the Sea'' is a 2021 young adult fantasy novel by Nigerian Welsh writer Natasha Bowen. Bowen's debut novel follows Simi, a mami wata who travels across sea and land in search of the Supreme Creator after breaking a law that threatens th ...
'' by
Natasha Bowen Natasha Bowen is a Nigerian-Welsh writer and teacher. She writes fantasy books for young adults. She is best known for her '' New York Times Bestselling'' novel ''Skin of the Sea''. Early life and education Natasha Bowen was born in Cambri ...
, Yemoja is the creator of the
Mami Wata Mami Wata, Mammy Water, or similar is a mermaid, water spirit, and/or goddess in the folklore of parts of Western Africa, Eastern Africa, and Southern Africa. Historically, scholars trace her origins to early encounters between Europeans and ...
. *In the song "Think of You" by French-Cuban musical duo
Ibeyi Ibeyi is a French musical duo consisting of twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz. The duo sings in English, French, Spanish and Yoruba, In Yoruba, Ibeyi (''Ìbejì'') means "twins". Their music has elements of Yoruba, French and Af ...
, the lyrics include mention of orishas Moyuba Oshun Shango and Yemaya. The song "Yemaya" by Alfredo Rodriguez and featuring Ibeyi is named for the spirit. *In the 2021 play
cullud wattah
' by
Erika Dickerson-Despenza Erika Dickerson-Despenza is an American playwright. She won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize in 2021 for her play, ''cullud wattah''. Early life and education Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Dickerson-Despenza graduated from the University of ...
, character Reesee prays to the goddess Yemoja to help bring back clean water to their town of Flint, Michigan, during the
Flint water crisis The Flint water crisis was a public health crisis from 2014 to 2019 which involved the drinking water for the city of Flint, Michigan, being contaminated with lead and possibly ''Legionella'' bacteria. In April 2014, during a financial crisis, ...
.


References


External links

* {{Authority control Brazilian mythology Fertility goddesses Lunar goddesses Mother goddesses Santería Sea and river goddesses Tutelary goddesses Voodoo goddesses Water goddesses Yoruba goddesses