The Yoruba religion was brought to the New World during the maafa (African slave trade) of different ethnic identities of West Africa. The religious beliefs of the Yorùbános were the most popular among the spiritual expressions of the African populations of America because a large number of them were captured and sold as slaves. It should also be clarified that during the period of slavery, their cult had to hide in a religious syncretism, so that their masters did not punish them, since they were forbidden to exercise their religion.
The Orishas were mortal beings who for some reason became divine beings, deified by their people by virtue of notable acts in life; in fact, the similarity between the Greek and Yoruba legends are numerous. It is worth mentioning that almost all the Orisa were kings of the Yoruba nation, great warriors and reformers of civilization. As for dogma and doctrine, traditional religion has its pillars in the belief in reincarnation, in the spiritual evolution of souls and the final rest of the souls in Orun (plane or spiritual world).
Because the African slaves who came to America could not freely exercise their religion, they hid their African Gods under the multiplicity of Catholic sanctities according to a relationship in which they sought similar characteristics among themselves. This led to a syncretism in the Yoruba diaspora, where today the same African deity can be called indistinctively by its African or Catholic name, an example of which is Shango or Santa Barbara. Below is a list with the names of the Orishas in the Afro-Cuban Yoruba religion.
Agayu. San Cristobal.
Babalu-aye. Saint Lazarus.
Shango. Saint Barbara.
Elegua- Eshu. The lonely soul, San Antonio de Padua, San Benito de Palermo and the holy child of Atocha.
Ibeyis or jimaguas. San cosme and San damián.
Inle. San Rafael and San Roque.
Iroko. The purest conception.
Nana buruku. Santa Ana and the Virgin of the road.
Obbatala. The mercies, San josé worker, Jesus crucified, Saint Lucia, San Joaquín, Santa Eduvigis, the most holy sacrament.
Oduduwa. The most holy sacrament.
Oshosi. San norberto, San humberto.
Oshun. Charity of copper.
Oggun. San Pedro, San Juan, San Pablo, San Jorge, Santiago Apostle, San Antonio Abad.
Oggun chibiriki. San Miguel Arcangel.
Olofin. Jesus Christ.
Olodumare. Great power of God.
Olorun. Holy Spirit.
Olokun. The virgin of rule.
Orisha oko. San isidro labrador.
Orula, Orunmila. San Francisco de Asis.
Osain. San antonio abad and San silvestre.
Oya. The Virgin of Candelaria and the Virgen del Carmen.
Osun. Saint John Baptist.
Yemaya. The virgin of rule.
The next publication will focus on the arrival of slaves in other continents and the syncretism among African saints and Catholic saints
