Santería

thumb|right|upright=1.3|A group of Santería practitioners performing the Cajón de Muertos ceremony in Havana in 2011

Yemọja (also: Yemaja, Yemanjá, Yemoyá, Yemayá; there are many different transliterations in other languages) is a major water deity in the Yoruba religion. She is an oriṣa, and the patron spirit of rivers, particularly the Ogun River in Nigeria, and of oceans in Cuban and Brazilian Orisha religions. She is often syncretized with either Our Lady of Regla in the Afro-Cuban diaspora or various other Virgin Mary figures of the Catholic Church, a practice that emerged during the era of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Yemọja is said to be motherly and strongly protective, and to care deeply for all

thumb|Veve of Ogoun Ogun (Yoruba: Ògún) is a major Orisha in the Yoruba religion that is also adopted in several other African religions. Ògún is revered as a powerful deity of war, iron, hunting, metalworking, metallurgy, blacksmiths, technology, innovation, and divine judgement, as well as of rum and rum-making. He is present in Yoruba religion, Santería, Haitian Vodou, West African Vodun, Candomblé, Umbanda and the folk religion of the Gbe people. According to some legends, as a human, he attempted to seize the throne of Ife Empire after the demise of Ọbàtálá, who reigned twice, before and

thumb|right|300px|A divination tray (Ọpọ́n Ifá) on which cowrie shells rests, as are used for Ifá divination

Shango (Yoruba: Ṣàngó) is the Orisha (or deity) of fire, thunder, lightning, virility, dance, drumming, strength and justice in the Yoruba religion. Genealogically, Shango is a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alaafin of the Oyo Empire prior to his posthumous deification. Shango is believed to have numerous manifestations as various historical and legendary figures, including Airá, Agodo, Afonja, Lubé, and Obomin. He is known for his double-headed battle-axe (Oṣé). He is considered to be one of the most powerful rulers that Yorubaland has ever produced.

thumb|Shrine to Oshun in the Osun-Osogbo|Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

Èṣù is the oriṣa of trickery, crossroads, duality and languages in the Yoruba religion. Eṣu is a prominent primordial divinity (a delegated Irúnmọlẹ̀ sent by the Olodumare) who descended from Ìkọ̀lé Ọ̀run, and the chief enforcer of natural and divine laws. He is in charge of law enforcement and orderliness. As the Yoruba religion spread around the world, the name of this Orisha has varied in different locations, but the beliefs remain similar.

Ọya (Yorùbá: Ọya, also known as Oyá, Oiá, Yànsàn-án, Yansã, Iyámsá, or Iansã) is one of the principal female deities of the Yoruba pantheon. She is the oriṣa of winds, lightning, and storms and is the only oriṣa capable of controlling the Eégún (spirits of the dead), a power given to her by Babalú Ayé.

Elegua (Yoruba: Èṣù-Ẹlẹ́gbára and Ẹlẹ́gbá, Ẹlẹ́gbára in North America, in Cuba spelled Eleggua; also known as Eleguá in Latin America and Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands) is an Orisha, a deity of roads in the religions of traditional Ifa-Orisha, Santería, Winti, Umbanda, Quimbanda, and Candomblé.

Ibeji (known as Ibejí, Ibeyí, or Jimaguas in Latin America) is the name of a pair of Orisha representing divine twins in the Yoruba religion of the Yoruba people (originating from Yorubaland, an area in and around present-day Nigeria). In the diasporic Yoruba spirituality of Latin America, Ibeji are syncretized with Saints Cosmas and Damian. In Yoruba culture and spirituality, twins are believed to be sacred, and are granted protection by the Orisha Shango. If one twin should die, it represents bad fortune for the parents and the society to which they belong. The parents therefore commission a

Oshosi (Yoruba: Ọ̀ṣọ́ọ̀sì, Portuguese: Oxóssi) is an Orisha of the Yoruba religion in West Africa and subsequently in Brazil and Cuba.

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Ọsanyin (Yoruba: Ọ̀sanyìn, rendered Osaín/Ossain/Ossaím in Latin America, Ague (Age) in Fon) is the orisha who has the omniscient knowledge of leaf, herb and matter. He is also known for healing and displaying magic and creating technological tools, and is popularly considered as a herbalist, magician, and technologist. He is the creator of the concept of Oniṣegun. Ọsanyin is believed to be a powerful wizard and master of all spells and crafts found in the wild and untamed areas of nature. In the Americas, he is syncretized with Saint Joseph. Ọsanyin is described as embodying the features of l