“The female deity Oya, the goddess of waters, is believed to have been a daughter of the primordial gods Obatala and his wife Yemojya. Oya is associated with fertility and acts of creation—probably in recognition of the nurturing role of water in the lives of plants, animals, and humans. Women who wish to become pregnant, in addition to taking the necessary herbs recommended by the Babalawo, may also be advised to make sacrifices of food and drinks to Oya at the bank of a river. In mythology, Oya is a wife of the god Shango—the god of thunder and lightning. Thus, she is sometimes described as the strong wind that precedes a thunderstorm. As Shango’s partner, Oya can be benevolent, especially to women who make sacrifices to her in return for fertility, but she can also perform acts of mischief. As a strong wind she blows off rooftops, fans Shango’s fire, breaks trees, or sweeps over and destroys farm crops.”

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