How Much Of A Role Does Oshun Play In The Orisha

Oshun the goddess Just how much of a role does Oshun play in the Orishas? Yoruba mythology originated in the Yoruba tribe, in West Africa around 5,000 years ago. This mythology is known for the presence of the supreme being and other more minor “gods" or “spirits” known as Orishas which are both male and female, which continues to influence Southwestern Nigeria (Ogbado). Oshun is the Yoruba deity of love, sensuality, femininity, and is known for the myth of the creation (Jeffries). According to the author, ``Oshun is her name, but she is also an important figure outside of Africa where she is known by other names, such as Oxum in Brazil and Ochún in Cuba (Jeffries)”. Oshun is the daughter of Obatala, and Yemaya (Mark). She has two sisters,

She often wears a gold headpiece, gold body jewelry and a gold dress. As stated by the author, “Oshun in many instances carries a mirror not because she is “vain” but because she represents your divine self-image (Onilu). The author state’s, “Oshun’s symbols are often associated with rain, water, gold, the color yellow, and birth (Aisha). The author’s point is that, “An animal associated with Oshun is the peacock, due to her turning herself into one to reach Olodumare after he became angered that her and the other Orishas were rebelling against him, so he started to withhold the rains, causing humans to become angry and ask the Orishas for help”, (Rhys). As stated by the author, “Oshun lives in Southwestern Nigeria, in a city called Osogbo, where she lived with humans”

“Of the 17, she was the only female and the only one of the deities who were able to begin to populate the earth” (Nelson). “At first, her male counterparts try to compete to achieve the task assigned by Olodumare, but when they see that only Oshun is able to fertilize and populate the earth, they begin to ask her for her help” (Nelson). In the author’s view, “Oshun responds by using her powers over water and love to fertilize and grow the earth’s population and geography” (Nelson). In the author’s text, the author maintains that “Oshun is considered to be a goddess specifically of the river and is associated with characteristics of fertility, love, and freshwater”