1
Stage 1 of 3
Yemọja
Yoruba · traditional
"river goddess of motherhood and creation"
compound of iye ("mother"), ọmọ ("child"), and ẹja ("fish"): "mother whose children are like the fish"
2
Stage 2 of 3
Yemayá
Spanish · 1800s
"orisha of the sea and motherhood in Santería"
creolized in Cuba as enslaved Yoruba carried her worship into Santería/Lucumí practice
3
Stage 3 of 3
Yemaya
English · 1900s
"orisha and goddess of the sea and motherhood"
spread into English through Santería and wider diaspora spiritual writing
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom