#nkise

Obatala and Yemaya by Kypris Aquarelas

In Brazil, the yoruba deity Obatala goes by the name Oxalá, a contraction of the expression "Orixalá", meaning "the Great Orisha". In afrobrazilian traditions this Orisha commonly takes two forms: Oxaguian, an youthful and impetuous warrior that likes eating yam and Oxalufan, an old wise man that uses a staff called Opaxorô. The greatest of the yoruba gods, Obatala is an Orisha Funfun (white-wearing deities), he is connected to the Forces of Creation, peace, purity, order and in Brazil it's a common practice to save fridays, his sacred day, avoiding to eat red meat, having intercourse and drinking alcohol. Some of his symbols are the Alá (a white cloth), the igbin (an african snail), the white dove, the Sky and the Sun.

Oxalá is a figure of utmost importance to most of the afrodiasporic religions. His cult is present in religions such as Umbanda, Candomblé, Batuque de Nação, Tambor de Mina, Santeria, Omolokô and many others. He's also syncretized with other proeminente divine figures: the Nkisi (deity) Lembá Dilê worshipped in Bantu Traditions and with Jesus Christ.

One of his most known pontos (prayers) says:

"Oxalá created the Earth,

Oxalá created the Sea,

Oxalá created the World

Where the Orishas reign (...)"

Yemoja, Yemaya or Iemanjá is the name of a major yoruba deity. Her name comes from the expression Yé Yé Omó Ejá: "Mother whose Children are the Fish". Yemaya is an Orisha connected to fertility, maternity, to good mental health and to the sustenance of life. In brazilian lands, she was crowned as the Queen of the Seas, but in reality she's connected to all bodies of water - fresh or sea ones. Her most known symbols are the fishes, the abebé (a fan-like object), sea shells and pearls, the Moon, the colors White, silver and blue. In nigerian lands, she's the goddess of the river Ogun.

Her worship is presente in most of the afrodiasporic religions such as Umbanda, Candomblé, Batuque de Nação, Tambor de Mina, Santeria, Omolokô and many others. Yemaya was syncretized with many catholic saints such as Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Cabeza, Our Lady of Glory and Our Lady of Navigants. She's also syncretized with other african deities, such as the Nkise Kaiala.

To Yemaya, we sing:

"My brother, when you hear

In the distance a beautiful song,

There must be the Angels from Paradise

Pombagira by Kypris Aquarelas 🔱

Pombagiras are one kind of ancestors or spirit guides present in afrobrazilian religions like Umbanda and Candomblé. They represent and are the spirits of women, especially those who were persecuted and often forced to recede into the margins of society.

They are the strong wind that comes down the mountains, the ancestral spirits who own the crossroads, the pathways, queens of the souls, ladies of the night and magic.

Pombagiras are Ngangas, Pombagiras are Exú-Mulher! 🔱

As for the word "pombagira", also written as pombogira, bombojira, pombajira and in many other ways, it's probably a corruption of "Pambu Njila", one of the Nkise (deities) of the Bantu people (Congo/Angola) similar to the Orixá Exú. Pambu Njila is worshiped in Brazil in the Candomblé Angola as the deity of pathways and crossroads, he is the intermediary between human beings and the Minkise (deities). Over time, in Brazilian lands, these ancestral spirit guides gained the name Pombagiras, as they share the streets, paths, sexuality and crossroads as areas of activity with the Nkise Pambu Njila.

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Pombagiras são um tipo de ancestrais ou espíritos guia presentes em afroreligiões como Umbanda e Candomblé. Elas representam e são os espíritos de mulheres, principalmente aquelas que foram perseguidas e forçadas às margens da sociedade.

Elas que são a ventania que vem descendo a serra, espíritos ancestrais donas das encruzas, dos caminhos, rainha das almas, senhoras da noite e da magia.

Pombogira é Maria, é Padilha, é Quitéria, é da Kalunga, é Mulambo, é Cigana, é Dama da Noite, é das Setes Encruzilhadas, é Rosa Encarnada, é da Praia, é das Sete Saias.

Pombagira é Nganga, Pombagira é Exú-Mulher! 🔱

"Ela gira no ar, ela gira na praça, ela gira na rua Ê ê ê Ela canta, ela dança, ela vive sorrindo em noite de lua Ê ê ê Ela é sincera, ela é de verdade Mas cuidado amigo que ela não gosta de falsidade"