Oya

Oya (pronounced oh-YAH) is a significant deity in the Yoruba religion, a West African spiritual tradition that has also influenced various Afro-diasporic religions such as Candomblé, Santería, and Umbanda. Oya is often associated with the element of wind, storms, lightning, death, rebirth, and transformation. She is also considered a powerful warrior and a protector of women. In Yoruba mythology, Oya is one of the wives of Shango, the orisha of thunder and lightning, and she is often depicted wielding a sword or a double-edged axe. The name "Oya" translates to "she tore" or "the sheath" in the Yoruba language, reflecting her fierce and transformative nature. In Hebrew, the name can be transliterated as אויה, though it does not have a direct translation. In Spanish, often used in Santería practices, she is referred to as "Santa Teresa" or "Oya." In Portuguese, used in Candomblé, she is known as "Oxumaré" or "Oiá." Oya's symbolism and attributes vary across different cultural contexts, but she is universally revered as a powerful and dynamic force.