Yemaja. Yemal by Sallie Ann Glassman Yemanja is an orisha, originally of the Yoruba religion, who has become prominent in many Afro-American religions.
Yoruba people, from what is now called Yorubaland, brought Yemaya/Yemoja and a host of other deities/energy forces in nature with them when they were brought to the shores of the Americas as captives. She is the ocean, the essence of motherhood, and a fierce protector of children. Name variants[edit] Because the Afro-American religions were transmitted as part of a long oral tradition, there are many regional variations on the goddess's name. Africa: Yemoja, Ymoja, Yemowo, Mami WataBrazil: Iemanjá, JanaínaCuba: Yemaya, Yemayah, Iemanya, Madre AguaHaiti: La Sirène, LaSiren (in Vodou)USA: Yemalla, Yemana, YemojaUruguay: IemanjáSuriname: Watra MamaDominican Republic: Yemalla or La Diosa del mar (sea goddess) In some places, Yemaja is syncretized with other deities: Yemaja is said to be the mother of all orisha.
Africa[edit] Brazil[edit] References[edit] Yemoja - African Goddess of the Ocean. Yemoja is the African Goddess of the Ocean and the patron diety of pregnant women.
She is honored not only in Africa but in Brazil. She is the creator goddess of the Yoruba tribe. This goddess went with the members of the Yoruba tribe when they were captured and taken to various areas in the world as slaves. She then became very well known and given different names. This is why she is honored in Brazil and also how she is associated with Virgin Mary. Her followers all wear necklaces of seven blue beads and seven clear crystals alternating. She is different then most goddesses because she is, in fact, a mermaid. Yemoja created a tribe and gave birth to all the water, salt and fresh, so she became a goddess. Use necklaces of seven turquoise beads and clear quartz beads to honor Yemoja. -words and art by Jessica Sitarik, age 12, Palm Coast, Florida.
Yemoja African Goddess of the Oceans/Rivers and Protector of Pregnant Women. Yemoja created a tribe and gave birth to all the water, Yemoja is the "Mother of the Children of Fishes.
" As such, she is the penultimate symbol of motherhood. Yemoja is the all encompassing mother; like the sea and Rivers, her ability to nurture is vast. Though associated with the ocean in the African Diaspora, in Yorubaland, Yemoja is the Orisa of the Ogun river. Yemoja is associated with the top layers of the ocean-Olokun is considered the deep, deep realm of the Ocean. Mo juba awo Yemoja. Iwo ni Ayaba Iya.
Iwo ni Iya Orisha. Iwo ni Inu Iye Odidi. Iwo ni Ifihan Ti Abo Ase. Iwo ni Inu Aiye. Iwo ni Orisha Obinrin Okun Nla ati Odo. Iwo ni Oluwa Awo Ti Abo Ipilese.