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I practice a West African religious tradition known as Ifa <\/em>or Orisha<\/em>.\u00a0 It’s very closely related to Vodun<\/em>, Santeria<\/em>, Lucumi<\/em>, and similar traditions in the Western Hemisphere.<\/p>\n Among the Ifa pantheon are many goddesses.\u00a0 One could say they are black, as they originate in black Africa.\u00a0 And at times one could say that they are angry.<\/p>\n Oya<\/strong> is the owner of the whirlwind.\u00a0 A rushing river.\u00a0 A copper current.\u00a0 She is electricity in the air, the crackle of tension as it builds, the sizzle as it releases.\u00a0 Her name means\u00a0”she tore.”\u00a0 Oya cleans away dirt and decay with her powerful broom.\u00a0 To quote my godmother, Luisah Teish, she is “a warrior against stagnation.”<\/p>\n Yemaya<\/strong> is the mother of fishes.\u00a0 She dances on the surface of the ocean, silver and blue and pearly white in the sun and moon.\u00a0 But in a storm–watch out!\u00a0And like any mother she is ready to defend her children to the death, stashing a kitchen knife in the pocket of that June Cleaver (!) apron.\u00a0 Don’t make her pull it out.<\/p>\n Oshun<\/strong> is sweetness personified.\u00a0 She owns erotic love, money, culture, and the finer things in life.\u00a0 Oshun is honey and oranges, cool spring water and trilling birdsong.\u00a0 She is also the vulture soaring high, casting her shadow over what is spoiled and needs work,\u00a0over all that must be\u00a0changed.\u00a0 From her I learned that engaging\u00a0others with my\u00a0anger is a blessing, a precious gift I give\u00a0them.<\/p>\n Some\u00a0divinities in the Ifa pantheon are asexual, and appear not to have sexual characteristics.\u00a0 Others seem to embody both sexes, either simultaneously or\u00a0via\u00a0different “faces” or “roads.”\u00a0 I’ve written here about three of the Orisha who are primarily seen as female, but there are others.<\/p>\n Even the briefest\u00a0discussion of Angry Black Goddesses would be incomplete without mention of the Iyami<\/strong>.\u00a0 This is a word in the West African Yoruba<\/em> language meaning “our mothers.”\u00a0 The Iyami of any community are that community’s witches.\u00a0 They act in secret to further women’s interests.\u00a0 They are able to disguise themselves as birds when going about their business.\u00a0 They are very dangerous to oppose.<\/p>\n Those who follow my tradition believe that each of us is closest to one Orisha in particular, and that Orisha is said to rule one’s head.\u00a0 Men may be ruled by female Orisha, and women by male Orisha.\u00a0 In fact, each of us has a father and a mother; the Orisha who rules our head and another of the complementary gender.<\/p>\n This is true of all people, no matter one’s race, origin, or religion.<\/p>\n Do you know who your Angry Black Goddess is?\u00a0 If you want to find out, you can ask a diviner.<\/p>\nAnd now a word from our sponsor…<\/h4>\n
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