ORI

Ọba

One of the many wives of Shango, his most loyal by some accounts. While Oshun is with other men, and Oya is on the battlefield, Oba lends her patient ear to her husband. In some versions of the story, namely in Brazil, she literally lends her ear in a cruel joke played by Oya and Oshun, her sister-wives. She is the orisha of fidelity, representing the bonds that hold marriage together. She is also a fearsome warrior sometimes said to have trained Oya herself in use of the sword. She protects women and is sacred to the River Oba.

Pantheon: Yoruba, African Diaspora Religions

Domain: Marriage, water, hearth.

Alternate Names: Oba, Obba, Obba Nani

Character Traits: Loyal till her last breath, powerful and stalwart.

Visual Traits: Usually a woman holding a sword or bow, adorned in red, orange, white, or pink.

Symbolism: The number 8, colors red, pink, white, orange, and blue, swords, bows, parrot feathers.

My favourite Orisha is Ọbà the Orisha of marriage, domestic life, loyalty, and sacrifice.

"Oba, the most senior of Shango's wives, was tricked by a rival into believing that if Shango ate a piece of her, he would love Oba eternally. Desperate for his affection, Oba cut off her ear and attempted to feed it to Shango mixed into his stew. He detected the trick and exiled her in disgust and rage. Grieving, Oba became the River Oba in present-day Nigeria"

"In a Cuban tradition, she ends up living in the cemetery and invented writing. There, she is tasked with recording the names of the dead."

Playing with colors

Ọbà, Ọya & Ọ̀ṣun

Oba is the Orisha of marriage, domestic life, loyalty, and sacrifice.

Oya is the Orisha of Winds, storms, transformation, death/rebirth.

Oshun is the Orisha of Love, Beauty, Prosperity, and Fresh Waters

Ọya, Yemọja & Ọṣun

Also sneak peak at Obba Nani