List of Yoruba deities
The Yoruba people have a large population in West Africa and broad dispersion through enslavement in the Americas.
The most prevalent West African religions, both in Africa and the Americas, are often those of the Yoruba people or those that were influenced by them. These West African religions also have intricate theologies. For instance, the Yoruba are thought to have a pantheon of up to 6,000 deities.
Yoruba deities are classified majorly into two groups: the Oriṣa and the Ajogun. This article consists of a list of the Oriṣa and Ajogun..
Supreme Deity
The Supreme Being in Yorùbá culture is known as Ọlọrun, Olódùmarè or Elédùa amongst other names.Major male Oriṣa
- Aganjú - oriṣa that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. He is not associated with volcanoes in Yorùbáland in West Africa, contrary to what is believed in Cuban-style practice of Oriṣa.
- Agẹmọ - the chameleon servant of the Supreme God Ọlọrun.
- Ọbalúayé - oriṣa of the Earth, strongly associated with infectious disease and healing.
- Èṣù - the orisha of crossroads, trickery, duality, beginnings and balance.
- Ọbàtálá - creator of human bodies; oriṣa of light, spiritual purity, and moral uprightness.
- Odùduwà - progenitor oriṣa of the Yoruba.
- Ògún - oriṣa who presides over iron, fire, hunting, smithery and war.
- Okó - a hunter and farmer oriṣa.
- Osanyin - oriṣa of the forest, herbs and medicine.
- Ọ̀ṣọ́ọ̀sì - oriṣa of the hunt, forest, strategy and of the knowledge.
- Ṣàngó - oriṣa of thunder and lightning.
Major female Oriṣa
- Ọbà - first wife of Ṣàngó and oriṣa of domesticity and marriage.
- Ọ̀ṣun - oriṣa who presides over love, intimacy, beauty, wealth, diplomacy and of the Osun river.
- Ọya - oriṣa of the Niger River; associated with wind, lightning, fertility, fire, and magic.
- Yemọja - oriṣa of water, women, the moon and of the Ogun river.
- Yemowo - wife of Ọbàtálá and oriṣa of the water.
Metaphysical personifications or spirits
- Ara - personification of thunder.
- Ori - personification of one's spiritual intuition and destiny.
- Iku - personification of death.
- Ajogun - each is a personification of negative aspects of life.