Orisha Forces of Nature

Dublin Core

Title

Orisha Forces of Nature

Subject

Description

Brief description/definition of Orisha, or Forces of Nature from Nigeria and Cuba.

Creator

Nicole Wines

Date

2011

Contributor

Nicole Wines

Rights

© Raíces Cultural Center

Format

pdf

Language

en

Type

Text

Identifier

EFMI_Orishas_Infosheet_2011.pdf

Coverage

Cuba

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

The Orisha traditions and belief systems, while originating in Africa, are now practiced worldwide. This evolution of these traditions in Cuba is an example of hte meshing of African and European cultures. Practitioners of Orisha belief systems were brought from Yorubaland in Nigeria during the transatlantic slave trade and kept their traditions alive throughout the Caribbean and the diaspora, often disguising their traditional forces of nature with avatars of Catholic Saints.

Orisha are not gods or deities. In Ochá there is only one God called "Olodumare" or "Olofin" and many aspects of god or natural forces which are known as Orisha.

Each Orisha has many roads or paths, just as each force of nature can behave in different ways at different times.

Those who believe in and are devoted to the Orisha are called Aborisha. Those initiated as priests and priestesses of the religion are called Olorisha.

Orisha belief has spread throughout the world and is practiced by people of all cultures.

Original Format

paper

Files

EFMI_Orishas_Infosheet_2011.pdf

Citation

Nicole Wines, “Orisha Forces of Nature,” Raíces Cultural Center Digital Archive, accessed March 29, 2024, https://archive.raicesculturalcenter.org/items/show/1.

Output Formats