Orishas

Each house and nation has nuances — here we provide a pedagogical basis with honored greetings. Deepen your knowledge with those who accompany you in the tradition.

About this page

The Orishas are primordial forces of nature and fundamental archetypes of human existence, personified in Yoruba philosophy as intermediary divinities between Olodumare (the Supreme Being) and human beings. They are not gods in the Western sense — they are cosmic principles with personality, stories (Itan), colors, offerings, and their own days of the week. There is no single, closed list: Verger notes that nowhere across Yoruba territory is there one hierarchical, single and identical pantheon of Orishas (Verger, Orixás, p. 2). To know the Orishas is to know the forces that shape the world and the very soul. Explore each Orisha on this page — from Eshu (the messenger who opens every road) to Nana Buruku (the elder of the primordial waters) — and discover which one resonates most deeply with you.

Other presences of the diaspora

Orishas with strong worship in Brazilian Candomblé, and new entries added one by one — each page states which tradition it speaks of.

Also worshipped in the Cuban tradition: Dadá.

About the Orishas

How many Orishas are there?+
The sources give no closed number. Mythology speaks of 201 or 401 divinities, a figure Abímbọ́lá says cannot be relied on as an accurate count — though a census of Yoruba divinities would exceed a hundred (Abímbọ́lá, Sixteen Great Poems of Ifá, p. 39, note 1). And Verger notes there is no single, identical pantheon across Yoruba territory: Orishas central in one town are absent in another (Verger, Orixás, p. 2).
Do we all have a ruling Orisha?+
Yes, according to tradition. Each person comes into the world under the primary protection of one or two Orishas — revealed through the Merindilogun shell divination or Ifá. The "Father of Head" and "Mother of Head" most influence character, temperament, and destiny.
Can I worship Orishas without being initiated?+
Yes, there are non-initiatory practices — greetings, small symbolic offerings, respect for sacred days, and philosophical study. Deeper rituals (sacrifices, initiations) require guidance from a Babalawo, Iyalorisa, or Babalorisa.
Are the Orishas different in Brazil, Cuba, and Africa?+
Essentially the same Orishas, but with cultural variations. Example: Oshun in Nigeria and Brazil is the Orisha of rivers and love; in Cuba she is called Oshun and is syncretized with the Virgen de la Caridad. The essence is shared; rituals and colors may vary.