Roots and Rooted

Oya, is a beautiful and powerful Orisa and her ruling odu is Osa Meji. Oya was the Queen of Ira and she was not from Nupe. Before she became Sango’s wife she had a kingdom of her own. Nevertheless, one cannot mention Oya (Ayaba Sango) without mentioning her husband Sango, for it was Sango who took Oya away from her original husband Ogun. It was also Oya, who was responsible for “permanently borrowing” Ogun’s original tools, which were his implements of war; hence, these tools became a part of her arsenal. Out of 16 rival goddesses vying for Sango, Oya who won his heart through her graceful movements, elegance, charm and personality. Warrior queen Oya, the loyal and favorite wife of Sango would often go into battle by her husband’s side and is known to be indispensable to her husband in every way. She is the strong wind that precedes the thunder. She can fan any fire set by Sango’s thunderbolts into a high blaze and she also has the ability to use forked lightening, to assist him in his battles. It is said that without Oya Sango cannot go into battle. She is also known for her intelligence, independence, fearlessness, gracefulness, sensuality, power, razor-sharp tongue, and deep intense passion.

Heavy winds, tornadoes, hurricanes, rainstorms, cyclones are also associated with Oya. She is theowner of the wind (Afefe). It is she who assists us with rapid inner and outer transformation. Oya, is about absolute change and is not a slow or very patient energy. She also governs over the Niger River and is the Mother of Egungun, (Iyagan meaning firm mother). Egungun (the Ancestors) is the embodiment spirits of a deceased one, who returns from Orun Rere (heaven) to visit his/her people. Oya is the protectress of the tradition and ancestral customs. She is the Orisa of rebirth.

Ol’Oya Types

Oya and Oya-types are known for their clairvoyance, psychic abilities, intuition and the ability to communicate the dead. She is the owner of the Marketplace (Mama Loja). She is a revolutionary and social crusader who fights for the underdog. Oya is a deity who is efficient, strong-willed, and very indispensable in emergency situations. Her power sweeps over all injustice, dishonesty, deceit from her path. Although unpredictable, Oya understands everything, but will only accept the truth. You may not like what is being said or even HOW it is said, but know that Oya speaks the truth. She hears all, sees all and gives of herself selflessly and places other’s needs before her own.

Oya is the guardian of the realm between life and death and she assists those when they make their final transition. The lungs, bronchial passages, and mucous membranes are associated with her. She can either hold back the spirit of death or call it forth; hence, she is the last breath taken. Oya also governs over the cemetery and the dead and is said to have entered the earth’s crust at Ira, upon hearing that Sango died. Oya is associated with the buffalo (Oya Gidigidi); hence, it is good to have buffalo’s horn (rubbed with camwood) on one’s altar for her. She is known for using charms and magic and is known as one of the Great Mothers of the “Elders of the Night (Witches).”

Oya’s the mother of disguises and has many different faces (masks). Many say that Oya is a great amazon who is said to have grown a beard when preparing for war. Legend tells us that no one wants to face Oya in battle for she is as fierce, ruthless, and cunning as any man. She is known to have destroyed towns, villages, uprooted all that was once in its’original state. No one wants to deal with the wrath of Oya or any other Orisa for that matter. We offer epo pupo to supplicate her and shea butter to calm her.

On a windy day, one should pray to Oya, humbly and sincerely of-course, for it is her messenger Afefe (the wind) that carries messages to her. She is not an Orisa to be taken for granted or lightly. Ghede Nimbo, is the aspect of Esu that assists Oya. Upon entering a cemetery or performing ancestral rituals, ceremonies, ebos, or any rituals always appease Ghede Nimbo first. Offer pennies and/or candy, epo pupo (palm oil), oti (gin), obi (kola nut), adura (prayers), and oriki(chants)/orin (songs) to open the way and ensure of blessings and protection.

Although she is both feared and loved. It is said and commonly known that Oya is very loyal to her children and dangerous to their enemies. She can come as smooth and cool as a warm summer breeze or as violent and vicious as a tornado and wreak utter havoc in your world. Oya is about business and she demands and commands respect!

Oya is associated with the colors: maroon, purple, deep dark red, orange, browns, multi-colors, burgundy, and cooper. Her number is 9 and in astrology is compared to the planet Pluto and the sign Scorpio and her metal of choice is copper.

Some of her foods are: female goat, eggplant, cooked corn meal, grape wine, grapes, gin, rum, kola nuts, plantains, palm oil, rooster, hen, black beans w/rice, anything spicy, fruit, okra soup, fish, cornstarch porridge, and akara.

Icons or effergies associated with Oya are: buffalo’s horns, masks, swords, iruba (horse tail whisk), pennies, whips, anything copper, camwood (which she loves), a broom, pictures of hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, wind instruments, anything associated with the wind and she loves cloth.

Her taboos are: smoke, palm kernel oil, ram, pork (depending on your road).

Some ewe (herbs) associated with Oya are: Comfrey, Pleurisy Roots, Horehound, Chickweed, Peony, Elecampane, Royal Poinciana, Star Apple, Flamboyan, Yucca, Caimito, Cypress, and Grains of Paradise just to name a few.

Here are some Oriki/Oyin for Ghede Nimbo, for the Egungun, and for Oya.

Oriki/Orin Ghede Nimbo:

Ghede Nimbo, Ghede Nimbo

Okunrin to bulewa

Ghede Nimbo, Ghede Nimbo

Onibode ile iku

repeat 1st verse

Ghede Nimbo Ghede Nimbo (repeat once)

Ghede Nimbo, Ghede Nimbo

Okunrin to bulewa

Ghede Nimbo Ghede Nimbo

Onibode ile iku

Oriki/Orin Egungun:

Mojuba fefe iku, mojuba fefe iku

Mojuba fefe iku, mojuba fefe iku

Iku o, iku o yin ti lo si joba Egungun

Iku o, iku o yin ti lo si joba Egungun

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arabara arabara arabara egungun arabara

Arabara arabara arabara egungun arabara (repeat 3 times)

Eegun arabara, eegun arabara, egungun arabara

Repeat 1st verse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wole wa Egungun, wole wa . Wole wa Egungun wole wa. Wole wa Egungun wola wa,

o o o wole wa.

Repeat verse

Oriki/Orin Oya:

Oya wima wima, Yansa wima wima oko to bembe aseni Oya

Oya wima wima, Yansa wima wima oko to bembe aseni Oya

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oya gwa e de, Oya gwa e de

Eegun wan ile Oya gwa e de

Repeat 1st verse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oya Oya Ayaba Sango

Oya Oya Ayaba Oyo ile o

Oya Oya Ayaba Sango

Oya Oya Ayaba Oyo ile o

Repeat verse

I could go on and on about my Iya; however, I do not want to seem biased! Being a devoted and humble servant of the Orisa, one must never forget it is not about who dobale or kunles to you, how many ase oke, agbadas or ilekes you have, or how many titles or names you have ~ it is about the Egungun, the Orisa, and Olodumare! It is not about you or me, it is about reverence, worship, and your servitude them. It is about having iwa pele manifest through your daily words and actions. It is about carrying one’s self in a manner that will not shame one’s self, community, Egungun, Orisa, or Olodumare.

I love my mother dearly with all of my heart and each day is a new transformation for me. The power of the Orisa is amazing and I believe it is safe to say that if Oya is your ruling Orisa, we are truly blessed. Even if she is not your Orisa, you are still blessed because you are a child of Olodumare, a child of the Orisa, and your have the ability to contribute something positive to your community or nothing at all.

The author: My name is HRG (Her Royal Grace) Olori (Queen) Oyadele and I greet everyone in the name of the Egungun, the Orisa, and Olodumare. I was initiated and trained to Oya and coronated (as a Queen) in the Republic of Benin, West Africa and I would like to give my insight of Oya from a Beninese perspective.

This article is the sole property of sole property of Her Royal Grace Olori Oyadele. And can not be republished or reproduced in any form without her express permission. Please contact the HRG at: olorioyadele@aol.com