Line #113 Characters/YorubaMythologyOrishas


1	!!The Orishas
2
3	Orisha is a term literally meaning "Owners of heads". This is in reference to the fact that the head is considered the seat of the soul in Yoruba belief. The Orishas are a broad category of spirits ranging in stature from great cosmic beings who manage the universe down to the god of the human stomach. Some Orishas are personifications of natural phenomena, and others are the spirits of departed ancestors. The most important of the Orishas number 16, in correspondence with the 16 sacred "Odu" or ritual recitations of the Ifa divination system.
4
5	[[foldercontrol]]
6
7	[[folder: Olorun/Olodumare/Olofi]]
8	!! Olorun
9
10	Owner of the Sky. Olorun is the supreme deity of Yoruba mythology. Aloof and mysterious, he is associated with the heavens. All powerful and all knowing, he stopped involving himself with the affairs of the world long ago. Unlike the other Orishas he has no shrines, images, or offerings. Olorun is traditionally only invoked out of utter desperation as he is not known to respond to anyone's cries. His counterpart in Myth/GbeMythology is Mawu.
11
12	* AboveTheGods: In comparison to Olorun the Orishas are functionally equivalent to Abrahamic angels or saints.
13	* HaveYouSeenMyGod?: According to Yoruba Muslims and Christians he was with us all along, we just don't listen to him. According to traditionalists he really just doesn't care most of the time.
14	* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: Olodumare is beyond anyone's understanding.
15	[[/folder]]
16
17	[[folder: Oramfe]]
18	!! Oramfe
19
20	The Almighty. Oramfe is the sky father and storm deity, this role was later passed onto Shango.
21
22	* BreathWeapon: Oramfe breathes fire at his enemies
23	* GodOfThunder: Less well known than Shango, but still very important in the HolyCity of Ife.
24	* TheMaker: Shared this role with Olorun in that Olorun is the origin of all things, but it was Oramfe who shaped the universe as we know it.
25	* TopGod: Used to rule over the pantheon.
26	[[/folder]]
27
28	[[folder: Obatala/Orisha-nla]]
29	!! Obatala
30
31	Lord of the White Cloth. Obatala is the god of purity, visions, creation, and the unborn.
32
33	* AntiInterferenceLockUp: Obatala does this to Olokun, chaining the sea god with seven silver shackles when they attempted to flood the newly-created earth.
34	* CompositeCharacter: The human Obatala who once ruled Ife and the primeval Orisha Obatala.
35	* CosmicEgg: A variant of this. He and Odudua were inside a calabash in the beginning of the universe.
36	* GodOfGood: Associated with peace, serenity, wisdom and compassion.
37	* GodIsInept: Usually once got drunk on palm wine and became responsible for creating human beings with different disabilities. However, upon seeing his creations, he loves and cares for them, becoming the patron of the disabled. And he swore to never drink palm wine again.
38	* GoodWearsWhite: The Lord of the White Cloth, clad in white and is also the Orisha associated with purity, clarity, and serenity.
39	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: How he is depicted in many legends.
40	* {{Seers}}: Associated with divination, prophecies, and destinies of all humans.
41	* ShesAManInJapan: Obatala is a woman in some paths of Santeria. Obatala is also associated with Saint Mercedes.
42	* SternOldJudge: Obatala controlled an oracle in Porto Novo that determined whether the accused is guilty or innocent.
43	* SiblingRivalry: With Oduduwa.
44	* TheMaker: Created the land using only sand from a conch shell and a hen and made humans from clay.
45	* ThePowerOfCreation: Creates human souls from clay.
46
47	[[/folder]]
48
49	[[folder: Odudua/Odua]]
50	!! Odudua
51	The Black One. Odudua is the goddess of motherhood, love, and the earth.
52
53	* BlindSeer: A goddess associated with destiny and is sightless.
54	* CosmicEgg: A variant of this. Odudua and Obatala lived inside a calabash in the beginning of the universe.
55	* EarthMother: The Earth personified.
56	* LoveGoddess: Odudua is the goddess of motherly love.
57	* NonHumanNonBinary: There is a lot of discussion on whether Odudua, the Earth goddess and the Yoruba king, Oduduwa are similar.
58	* ThePowerOfCreation: Associated with creative energy and life. She is praised as Yewajobi, the mother of all things.
59	* TheRival: With her twin, Obatala.
60	* WordsCanBreakMyBones: Created the world into existence through words.
61
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder: Aganju]]
65	!! Aganju
66	The Wilderness. Aganju is a warrior god who is associated with volcanic activity by Cuban worshippers.
67
68	* CompositeCharacter: Perhaps a combination of the spirit, Aganju and that of the mortal king, Aganju.
69	* CoolBoat: Invented the first boat and used it to traverse the rivers.
70	* CoolOldGuy: Aganju Shola is described as elderly yet strong and virile for his age.
71	* GetRichQuickScheme: After inventing the boat, he charges anyone who relied on the rivers exorbitant fees for transportation becoming extremely wealthy.
72	* GodOfFire: Commands fire and volcanoes in Santeria and other African diasporic religions.
73	* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Traps Obatala (who is in disguise) on the boat and demands to bed her for a fee. From this union, Obatala gives birth to Shango.
74	* TheHermit: Lives in the wilderness and is the god of uninhabited drylands.
75
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder: Yemoja/Yemaya/Yemo'o-Oboto]]
79	!! Yemoja
80
81	Mother of Fish. Yemoja is the guardian over rivers, women, and children.
82
83	* AnimalMotifs: Associated with fish.
84	* AttemptedRape: Her son, Orungan attempted to rape her. She fled his advances and shattered into multiple pieces.
85	* BerserkButton: In one tale, she and Ogun marry under one condition: they do not speak to each other about their shortcomings. Ogun had eyes that were constantly bloodshot. Yemoja had only one breast. One day, Ogun tried to cook her some soup but since he had no talent for it and broke the pot, spilling the soup all over the floor. Yemoja seeing the mess cried out that someone with bloody eyes was ruining her kitchen. Ogun struck her but regretted it. So to comfort her, he stroked her breast. Yemoja felt so ashamed at her physical defect that she fled, undergoing {{metamorphosis}} to become the river Ogun.
86	* BigBeautifulWoman: Depictions of Yemoja's form emphasizes her stature and fullness and is well regarded by the devotees as the epitome of beauty.
87	* CompositeCharacter: Yemoja eventually took on tales and legends of other similarly associated water goddesses, such as Olosa and Olokun.
88	* DrivenToSuicide: In one tale, when her sons return after saving their brother from Osanyin, Yemoja refuses to let them in. In retaliation, they abandon her. This drives Yemoja to suicide and become a river.
89	* HealerGod: Associated with health, fertility, and womanhood.
90	* LordOfTheOcean: In some aspects, Yemoja controls the oceans and is associated with Olokun.
91	* MayflyDecemberRomance: After being tired of Obatala, Yemoja takes Erinle/Inle, a mortal fisherman as her lover. It does not go well for either of them.
92	* MotherGoddess: She is the mother of the countless Orishas that populate the world.
93	* OurMermaidsAreDifferent: Portrayed as a mermaid and dwelling in her underwater palace.
94	* ThirdPartyPeacekeeper: Mediates relations between multiple Orishas.
95	* WaterIsWomanly: She is the personification of the Ogun River, associated with childbirth, motherhood, fertility, and health.
96
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder: Shango/Chango/Xango/Jakuta]]
100	!! Shango
101
102	Wild Striker. Once a king of Oyo, Shango is now the god of thunder and lightning.
103
104	* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Upon his mortal time as a king, Shango ascended to become an Orisha.
105	* Authority Equals Asskicking: He is the king of the Yoruba and the Orishas and one of the powerful Orishas.
106	* AntiHero: How his character is portrayed in his mortal epic. Shango begins as a tyrant king before regretting his actions and becoming DrivenToSuicide
107	* BackFromTheDead: Shango eventually becomes resurrected, becoming the thunder itself.
108	* BattleCouple: With Oya.
109	* CompositeCharacter: Perhaps there existed a Shango as a personification of thunder and lightning before there was Shango, the King of the Yoruba people.
110	* CoveredWithScars: Introduced the art of scarification during his time as king.
111	* DanceBattler: Shango exchanged his prophetic powers for Orunmila's drumming and dancing capabilities.
112	* DistressedDude: When imprisoned in his home by Oya, leaving Oshun to come to his rescue.
113	* DrivenToSuicide: When his plot to kill Gbonka and Timi fails, he exiles himself and ends his life out of shame.
114	* ElementalEmbodiment: Of Thunder.
115	* FireIsMasculine: Shango represents masculinity and is heavily associated with fire.
116	* GodEmperor: As the third Alaafin of Oyo Empire.
117	* GodOfThunder: The archetypical lord of thunder and lightning, replacing Oramfe in many respects.
118	* HairTriggerTemper: Easily upset and angry.
119	* LetsYouAndHimFight: Shango with the help of Oya tricks his two strongest generals, Gbonka and Timi into killing each other.
120	* MultipleChoicePast: There are numerous stories around Shango's birth. One suggests that he is the son of Obatala and Aganju. In another, he sprung from Yemoja when she escaped Orungan's advances.
121	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: His plot to secure his rule and eliminate both Gbonka and Timi backfires, leading to his exile and death eventually.
122	* ReallyGetsAround: Shango is known for his wandering eye which infuriates his wives, Oba and Oya.
123	* ShesAManInJapan: In Haiti and other Caribbean countries, Shango is associated with Saint Barbara.
124	* ShockAndAwe: As the Orisha associated with lightning.
125	* TheRival: Of Ogun
126	* ThunderDrum: Shango is associated with the bata drum which he introduced during his reign.
127	* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Shango is deathly afraid of the dead and otherworldly spirits. Oya uses this to keep him with her inside the house.
128
129	[[/folder]]
130
131	[[folder: Orunmila/Ifa]]
132	!! Orunmila
133
134	Witness of Fate and Second to Olodumare, Orunmila is the god of wisdom as well as prophecy.
135
136	* TheArchmage: Only Eshu can contest his powers over divination.
137	* CompositeCharacter: With Ifa, the god of knowledge and Ori.
138	* {{Foil}}: To Eshu.
139	* GodOfOrder: Responsible for correcting and enforcing destinies of Orishas and mortals alike.
140	* HappilyMarried: To Iwa, the Orisha of Integrity and Good Character.
141	* HighPriest: His role as the chief divination deity.
142	* OddFriendship: His closest companion is Eshu, the God of Chaos and they are an inseparable pair.
143	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: The Orishas and mortals alike seek his counsel.
144	* RedOniBlueOni: Blue Oni to Eshu's Red. Orunmila's knowledge guides people through Eshu's constant changes to one's destinies.
145	* TheOmniscient: The keeper of all the knowledge in the world. Invented divination as well.
146	* TheSmartGuy: Function as this in many of his legends.
147	* TheWitchHunter: Orunmila detests witches. In one tale, he helps Obatala when pesky witches attempted to murder him.
148	* WeakButSkilled: Orunmila is noted as the physically weakest but divination was his major strong suit.
149	* YouCantFightFate: Warns a lot of the Orishas in his divinations what would happen if a choice is taken. Not that many of them in the legends follow what he has declared.
150	[[/folder]]
151
152	[[folder: Eshu/Esu/Elegba/Elegbara/Elegua/Shigidi/Osetura]]
153	!! Eshu
154
155	He who seizes. Master of force. Eshu is the trickster of the Orishas and master of mischief.
156	* AngelUnaware - DevilInDisguise: As an Orisha, he takes on many faces.
157	* AtTheCrossroads: He is associated with crossroads and choices.
158	* BalanceBetweenOrderAndChaos: He is associated with balance, mediating between change and stability.
159	* ChaosIsEvil: Averted. While Eshu later became associated with evil and malice, he is much rather associated with transformation.
160	* ChaoticNeutral: His whole character balances the forces of the universe and is not afraid to challenge authority to bring about change.
161	* DidYouJustScamCthulhu: Eshu's biggest feat has been tricking Olorun, the primeval creator of universe into having a more reserved role in the universe. He did this by stealing Olorun's slippers and sneaking into his garden to take some yams for fufu. When Olorun discovered the theft, he called the other Orishas and demanded that the culprit be banished forever. Olorun discovered that he had been framed for the theft but had no evidence to prove it. So he retired to the heavens with Eshu as his own confidante.
162	* DisproportionateRetribution: Willing to start a fight and conflict between anything that dares to neglect his worship.
163	* GodOfChaos: Eshu is the personification of mischief. He produces disorder and undermines order.
164	* JudgeJuryAndExecutioner: Eshu is the divine enforcer punishing those who fail to make sacrifices to the Orishas and personally dispenses justice.
165	** When Ogun breaks a taboo and kills a gatekeeper, Eshu drives him into the forest.
166	** When the Kola tree refuses to sacrifice to Eshu, he cursed her children, the kola nuts to forever be used as ritual tools.
167	* MultipleChoicePast: Eshu is either a son of Yemoja or Olodumare or born from Oshun after the gods properly offered their offering to her.
168	* ThoseTwoGuys - OddFriendship: Eshu and Orunmila are constant companions and partners. In one tale, Olodumare reveals that they are intrinsically linked to one another that one cannot live without the other.
169	* TricksterGod
170	* {{Troll}}: Chief provocateur amongst the Orisha. Once caused a huge quarrel within a happily married husband and two wives just because he found the situation unsatisfactory.
171	* WindsOfDestinyChange: The god of fortune and controller of all destiny.
172	[[/folder]]
173
174	[[folder: Ogun/Ogum/Ogou]]
175	!! Ogun
176
177	The one who pierces. Ogun is the god of iron and warfare.
178
179	* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Oshun and Yemoja both fell for him because of this.
180	* CompositeCharacter: Of the historical and mortal ruler, Ogun and the Ogun associated with iron-working.
181	* FatalAttractor: Shafted usually in his tales when it comes to love.
182	* GodOfFire
183	* MacheteMayhem: Popular depictions showcase him with a machete and a shield.
184	* ReallyGetsAround: Known for his association with masculine sexuality and has many lovers.
185	* RedOniBlueOni: Red oni to Oshun's blue oni.
186	* TheBlacksmith: The Orisha associated with iron-working and other forms of metallurgy.
187	* TheHermit: Lives alone in the woods. Abandoned humanity when he massacred his own people.
188	* TheRival: To Shango.
189	* WarGod
190
191	[[/folder]]
192
193	[[folder: Olokun]]
194	!! Olokun
195
196	Owner of the sea. As the name indicates, Olokun is the sea divinity.
197
198	* AdaptationalGenderIdentity: Olokun's gender is ambiguous. They present as male or female or androgynous depending on the interpreter.
199	* AwesomeUnderwaterWorld: Rules over one.
200	* BigBrotherInstinct: When Shango pursued Oya for stealing his magic powers, Olokun sheltered her and used powers of the waters to hold Shango back.
201	* BreakTheHaughty: Once Olokun declared that they were the most beautiful and luxuriously-dressed amongst all the Orishas. They could weave beautiful fabrics and dresses that amazed all the Orishas except Olodumare. To humble Olokun, Olodumare sent his messenger, the chameleon, Agemo who could mimic all the colors that Olokun wore. Conceding his defeat, Olokun declared that he can best the Orishas but not Olodumare.
202	* GodOfTheDead: Shelters humans who drowned or lost their lives at sea.
203	* LordOfTheOcean: Olokun is the ruler of the primordial sea and has been chained in the depths since times immemorial.
204	* MoodSwinger: Noted to be a temperamental and moody Orisha.
205	* OurMermaidsAreDifferent: Images of Olokun portrayed the Orisha with mudfish legs.
206	* SealedEvilInACan: For all the destruction Olokun could cause due to their enmity with Obatala, the Orisha is chained at the ocean floor unable to escape from the seven silver chains.
207	* SecretKeeper: Olokun is the protector of secrets.
208	* TheGreatFlood: Attempts to unleash one when Obatala created land.
209	* TheRival: With Obatala.
210	* WomanScorned: In one tale, Olokun loved Orisha Oko but when she revealed that she was a mermaid, Oko rejected her. From then on, she would destroy farmlands that dared approach her domain.
211
212	[[/folder]]
213
214	[[folder: Olosa]]
215	!! Olosa
216
217	Owner of the lagoon. Goddess of the lagoon of Lagos.
218	[[/folder]]
219
220	[[folder: Sopona/Shopona/Shankpanna/Babalu-Aye]]
221	!! Sopona
222
223	Smallpox. Father of the Earth. Lord of pestilence, infectious diseases, and madness.
224
225	* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Sopona is shunned by the rest of the Orishas. Even more so after he spread smallpox when they made fun of his dance.
226	* BackFromTheDead: Killed by Olodumare for sleeping with his concubines on a holy day. Revived after Oshun forced Olodumare to forgive Sopona and revive him.
227	* DisabledDeity: In some tales, he has a limp.
228	* [[EarthMother Earth Father]]: His name, Babalu Aye means "Father or Lord of the Earth."
229	* {{Plaguemaster}}: The god of primarily smallpox but encompasses all forms of infectious diseases.
230	* TheDreaded
231	* TheExile: Banished after he struck the Orishas with a plague of smallpox.
232	* TheSwarm: Associated with flies and mosquitos.
233	* TouchOfDeath: Has an alternative epithet, "One who kills and is thanked for it"
234
235	[[/folder]]
236
237	[[folder: Olarosa]]
238	!! Olarosa
239
240	Protector of house and home from the forces of evil.
241
242	* BarrierMaiden: Guards the home from witchcraft and other malignant forces.
243	* GuardianEntity: Of homes and households.
244
245	[[/folder]]
246
247	[[folder: Dada]]
248	!! Dada
249
250	God of fertility both human and agricultural.
251	[[/folder]]
252
253	[[folder: Oya]]
254	!! Oya
255
256	Goddess of the mighty Niger River.
257
258	* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: In one story, Ogun or Shango sees Oya in a guise of an antelope or a water buffalo. He seized the skin in which she used to transfrom and forced her to marry him.
259	* AnimalMotifs: The water buffalo or antelope.
260	* BattleCouple: With Shango.
261	* BlowYouAway: As Iansan in Cuba and the Caribbean, Oya is the goddess of the winds.
262	* BreathWeapon: Once stole sacred medicine meant for Shango. When she spoke to him, she expelled flames from her mouth.
263	* ColorMotif: Depicted in red.
264	* DestroyerDeity: Goddess associated with destruction, change, and transformation. She is also a goddess of storms, whirlwinds, and other destructive atmospheric phenomena. Her name literally means "She Tore" or "The Tearer"
265	* GodOfTheDead: Guards the entrance between life and death. Begrudgingly, since Yemoja long ago tricked her into switching places.
266	* GoneSwimmingClothesStolen: Like the typical Swan Maiden tale, Oya undresses from her guise as a water buffalo to go swimming. Only for her skin, the water buffalo form to be stolen by Ogun/Shango.
267	* NightOfTheLivingMooks: Creates an army of the dead to keep Shango in the house.
268	* RedOniBlueOni: The red oni to Oshun and Oba's blue oni.
269	* ShockAndAwe: A goddess associated with lightning.
270	* TragicStillbirth: Oya is often also called Iya Mesan, due to her giving birth to nine stillborn children.
271	* UndyingLoyalty: When Shango becomes TheExile, only Oya follows him and even establishes his worship.
272	* WarGod: Oya is associated with warfare and has used her powers to help Shango win battles.
273
274
275	[[/folder]]
276
277	[[folder: Oshun]]
278	!! Oshun
279
280	Goddess of the Oshun River.
281
282	* AnimalMotif: Associated with peafowls, bees, and buzzards.
283	* DidYouJustScamCthulhu: Tricked Death and Olodumare on different occasions. She uses her specially-crafted honey to force Olodumare to revive Babalu-Aye.
284	* ColorMotif: Depicted in yellow or gold.
285	* DivinePunishment: When Oshun gives the people of Osogbo children but the people neglected her. She[[GodIsDispleased caused the people to get fevers]] and cures them when they restored her worship.
286	** The male Orishas when the world was created,[[StayInTheKitchen sidelined]] Oshun and for their malice, nothing they created or worked on came into fruition. When the Orishas acknowledged the power of Oshun, she brought good fortune to the Orishas, allowing for the Earth to flourish.
287	* FunPersonified: The goddess of joy and festivities.
288	* HeroicSeductress: Oshun is associated with love and sexuality. She uses her charms and sexuality to get what she wants or assist others.
289	* IntentionalHeartbreaker
290	* LadyOfWar: Praised in songs as carrying a cooling brass fan in one hand and a brass cutlass in another.
291	* LauncherOfAThousandShips: Associated and married to many male Orishas, Shango, Orunmila, and Ogun are among the many.
292	* LoveGoddess: Associated with love, desire, and fertility. The patron of romantic and sexual love.
293	* PatronGod: The town of Osogbo is where her principal sanctuary is located.
294	* RedOniBlueOni: Oshun is the Blue Oni, associated with cool and sweet freshwater to Ogun's Red Oni, the heat and flames of the forge and industry
295	** She is also the Blue Oni to her rival wife, Oya.
296	* SweetTooth: A goddess associated with honey and enjoys it more than anything else.
297	* TheMedic: Healer goddess, uses her waters to cure fevers.
298	* TheAlmightyDollar: Oshun is associated with luck, wealth, and prosperity.
299	* TheHighQueen: Oshun is perhaps the first woman to be referred as an Iyalode, a high ranking female chieftain.
300	* TopWife: Shango's favorite wife among Oya and Oba. PlayingWith this trope, Oshun also has multiple husbands.
301	* TricksterGod: Her famous exploits revolve around seducing and tricking foes and using guile to punish those who have offended her.
302	* WaterIsWomanly: As the goddess of the cool freshwater and the embodiment of the Osun River
303
304	[[/folder]]
305
306	[[folder: Oba]]
307	!! Oba
308
309	Goddess of the Oba River.
310
311	* HeroicSacrifice: In another tale, Oba sacrifices her ears to feed Shango when Ogun's forces invaded his territory and cut off all food supplies.
312	* LoveGoddess: Oba is the goddess of marriage and fidelity.
313	* LoveMakesYouCrazy: In another, Oba sacrifices her ear under the instructions of Orunmila to tie Shango to her forever.
314	* LoveMakesYouDumb: Oba desired Shango's love so much that Oya or Oshun tricked her into cutting off her ear and put it in his meal as an aphrodisiac. When Shango discovered that act, he chased Oba unti she transformed herself into a river.
315	* TheAlmightyDollar: Oba is the goddess of the marketplace and commerce.
316	* WaterIsWomanly: As the goddess of the Oba River.
317
318	[[/folder]]
319
320	[[folder: Aje Shaluga]]
321	!! Aje Shaluga
322
323	God of wealth.
324
325	* AdaptationalGenderIdentity: Either a god or a goddess depending on the story.
326	* BroodingBoyGentleGirl: Inverted. Aje Shaluga is the gentle Orisha that comforts Oshun in her time as a widow.
327	* HappilyMarried: To Oshun.
328	* MakingASplash: The divine deity of water and fell in love with Oshun from watching her from their river abode.
329	* TheAlmightyDollar: The deity of wealth, commerce, and luxury. In one story, Aje Shaluga's riches were what uplifted Oshun's status and made her a goddess of luck and wealth.
330
331	[[/folder]]
332
333	[[folder: Orisha Oko]]
334	!! Orisha Oko
335
336	Farm God. The primary spirit of agriculture and fertility.
337
338	* {{Foil}}: To Osanyin and Oshosi, the Orishas associated with wilderness.
339	* CountryCousin: Depicted as such as in some legends.
340	* DemotedToExtra: While in Yorubaland, Oko continues to hold worship. His popularity diminished largely in the religions of the African diaspora.
341	* FertilityGod: As the Orisha of agriculture and fertility.
342	* FoodGod: He is the god needed for human sustenance.
343	* GagPenis: Fertilizes the Earth with it.
344	* GreenThumb: As the Orisha of cultivated plants.
345	* SternOldJudge: The arbitrator in Orisha affairs. The god associated with justice and settlements.
346
347	[[/folder]]
348
349	[[folder: Osanyin]]
350	!! Osanyin
351
352	Beneficial god of medicine and healing.
353
354	* AnimalMotifs: Associated with birds.
355	* DisabledDeity: A tale from Santeria explains how it happened. Once he selfishly hoarded his knowledge of plant life from the Orisha. When Eshu heard of this, he knocked over Osanyin's house, crushing the god and leaving him only with one arm, one leg, and one eye. He only hears with one ear yet so acutely that he can hear the subtle movements of the world.
356	* CaringGardener: Lives in solitude tending to his groves in the rainforests.
357	* CharmPerson: In a Brazilian tale, Osanyin once charmed one of Yemoja's sons, transforming him into Erinle and wiping his memory.
358	* GreenThumb: Called the "Lord of Leaves" and is asssociated with herbs, plants, and wild vegetation.
359	* HealerGod: The god of botany, medicine, and herbalism.
360	* SuperHearing: One ear can even hear wings of a butterfly flap.
361	* TheMedic: As a mortal before becoming a god.
362	* {{Ventriloquism}}: Priests of Osanyin are assisted by small puppets who speak in thin, squeaky voices, play whistles, or ring bells as they prophesy for the patients who come to consult them.
363
364	[[/folder]]
365
366	[[folder: Aroni]]
367	!! Aroni
368
369	The one with a withered limb. Dangerous god of the wilderness.
370	[[/folder]]
371
372	[[folder: Aja]]
373	!! Aja
374
375	Wild vine. Benevolent goddess of the wilderness.
376	[[/folder]]
377
378	[[folder: Oye]]
379	!! Oye
380
381	God of the Harmattan wind.
382
383	* BlowYouAway: As the god of winds.
384
385	[[/folder]]
386
387	[[folder: Ibeji]]
388	!! Ibeji
389
390	To beget two. God and protector of twins.
391
392	* TheAlmightyDollar: The gods of good luck and prosperity.
393	* AnimalMotifs: Monkeys are sacred animals associated with the Ibeji.
394	* DeityOfHumanOrigin: Kahinde and Taiwo were the first twins to be born in the world and eventually achieved apotheosis.
395	* HappilyAdopted: By Oya or in some tales, Yemoja.
396	* [[HealerGod Healer Gods]]: Associated with healing and protection.
397	* OddJobGods: The Orisha and protectors of twins.
398	* ParentalAbandonment: When Oshun gave birth to the Ibeji, the people shunned her and called her a witch. Out of shame, [[MissingMom she]] abandoned the twins.
399	* [[PatronSaint Patron Saints]]: Associated with Saints Cosmas and Damian, who are also patron saints of twins.
400	* RedOniBlueOni: Represented by two colors, red and blue.
401	* TricksterTwins: Usually noted as mischievous and playful pranksters.
402	* TwinsAreSpecial: Yoruba peoples have one of the highest incidents of twin births in the world. As a result, the Ibeji are the patron of twin births. Twins are also considered sacred and honored in carved memorials upon death.
403
404	[[/folder]]
405
406	[[folder: Oshunmare]]
407	!! Oshunmare
408
409	The Great Snake of the Underneath. The god of the rainbow.
410
411	* TheAlmightyDollar: Invoked to win lotteries and prizes.
412	* AnimalMotifs: The snake.
413	* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Of the rainbow.
414	* EverythingsBetterWithRainbows: As the Orisha of the rainbow, he connects the natural world with that of the Orishas.
415
416	[[/folder]]
417
418	[[folder: Oke]]
419	!! Oke
420
421	Mountain. God of mountains, rugged terrain, landslides, and rockslides.
422	[[/folder]]
423
424	[[folder: Ochosi]]
425	!! Ochosi
426
427	God of the hunt, justice, and fishing.
428
429	* ClassicalHunter: Associated with hunting and marksmanship.
430	* ColorMotif: Green.
431	* HealerGod: Associated with herbs and medicine.
432	* ForestRanger: Lives alone in the forests, spending his days in solitude.
433	* SacredBowAndArrows: Depicted with one.
434	* TheDreaded: Associated with justice and retribution.
435	* ThePowerOfThree: Represented by the number, three. He wields a bow with three arrows.
436	* TheQuietOne: Usually depicted as stern and silent.
437	* TheStoic
438	* TragicMistake: In one story, Ochosi discovered that the partridge he had caught for Olorun went missing. He used his magic justice-seeking arrow to strike the culprit and kill them. When he discovered that his mother Yemoja was the culprit and has been shot in the heart. He decided to retire from civilization and live in the rainforest.
439	* WorthyOpponent: Ogun once challenged Ochosi to a duel. However, when they were unable to defeat each other, they held a truce and became [[HeterosexualLifePartners close friends.]]
440
441	[[/folder]]
442
443	[[folder: Orun]]
444	!! Orun
445
446	The Sun god.
447
448	* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Of the Sun.
449	* GodOfLight: As the sun god.
450	* MultipleChoicePast: In one tale, the sun is inanimate, a ship created by Obatala.
451	* WeUsedToBeFriends: Eshu broke them up. The sun and the moon used to be true companions until they quarreled over what color Eshu's hat was.
452
453	[[/folder]]
454
455	[[folder: Oshu]]
456	!! Oshu
457
458	The Moon goddess.
459
460	* AdaptationalGenderIdentity: Either a god or a goddess depending on the story.
461	* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Of the Moon.
462	* GodOfTheMoon
463	* PhilosophicalParable: The moon's refusal to sacrifice to God and the consequences serves as a cautionary tale for those who do the same.
464	* RefusalOfTheCall: Refuses to sacrifice to the Orishas upon his birth. Thus, the Moon would forever spend 15 days on Earth and 15 days in Heaven.
465	* WeUsedToBeFriends: Eshu broke them up. The sun and the moon used to be true companions until they quarreled over what color Eshu's hat was.
466
467	[[/folder]]
468
469	[[folder: Olori-Merin]]
470	!! Olori-Merin
471
472	Owner of four heads. Protector god of towns. Or representative of the four gods of the cardinal directions.
473	[[/folder]]
474
475	[[folder: Oduduwa]]
476	!! Oduduwa
477
478	The source of existence. Divine king and ancestor of the Yoruba race.
479
480	* [[EarthMother Earth Father]]
481	* {{Foil}}: To the celestial Obatala.
482	* GodEmperor: As the brother of Obatala, Oduduwa snuck down from heaven and finished up his work while Obatala was drunk on palm wine. When Obatala discovered this, he attempted to kill him, causing a great war that nearly devastated the world. Olorun arbitrated on the case, giving Obatala the power of creation of humans while Oduduwa would become their first ruler.
483
484
485	[[/folder]]
486
487	[[folder: Oranmiyan]]
488	!! Oranmiyan
489
490	My issue is resolved. Grandson of Oduduwa. The first Alaafin of the Oyo empire. Warrior god.
491
492	[[/folder]]
493
494	[[folder: Erinle/Inle/Eyinle]]
495
496	!! Erinle/Inle/Abatan/Eyinle
497
498	The elephant. Erinle is the god of healing, fertility, and abundance. The god of the Erinle River.
499
500	* AdaptationalGenderIdentity: Either a male river god or goddess, depending on who you ask.
501	* BeneathTheEarth: Erinle lives in a palace beneath the crust of the Earth.
502	* HealerGod: Associated with healing and medicine.
503	* HonorableElephant: When the town of Ilobu had a drought, he changed into an elephant and then sank into the Earth and became the Erinle River.
504	* {{Metamorphosis}}: Erinle in one tale transforms into the river after Shango drives him away violently for seeking Shango's wife, Oba's hand in marriage.
505	* TheSpeechless: In some tales, Erinle was rendered mute by the water goddess, Yemoja.
506	* OtherworldlyAndSexuallyAmbiguous: Erinle's gender as noted is rather vague. In Santeria, Inle is worshiped as a beautiful androgynous youth.
507
508	[[/folder]]
509
510	[[folder: Moremi Ajasoro]]
511	!! Moremi Ajasoro
512
513	The legendary Yoruba queen who assisted in the liberation of Ife from a nearby hostile kingdom.
514
515	* BargainWithHeaven: Made a deal with the Esimirin River Orisha to help her defeat the bandits in exchange for the sacrifice of her firstborn.
516	* HoneyTrap: Acts as one to uncover information about the Ugboland.
517	* HumanSacrifice: Moremi sacrifices Oluorogbo, her son when the River Orisha demands it. Oluorogbo, now having AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence promises to return to the Yoruba people.
518

Context Characters / YorubaMythologyOrishas