Ọba (orisha)
| Ọba | |
|---|---|
River Ọbà | |
| Member of Orisha | |
| Other names | Ọbá, Ọbà |
| Venerated in | Yoruba religion, Umbanda, Candomble, Santeria, Haitian Vodou, Folk Catholicism |
| Symbol | lightning, the sword or machete, the flywhisk, water buffalo |
| Color | pink |
| Region | Nigeria, Benin, Latin America |
| Ethnic group | Yoruba |
| Genealogy | |
| Spouse | Shango |
Ọbà (known as Obá in Latin America) is the orisha of the River Oba, the source of which lies near Igbon, where her worship originates. During the wars of the 19th century, her centers of worship moved to the more secure town Ogbomosho. She is traditionally identified as the senior wife of Shango (the third king of the Oyo Empire and an orisha). Oba was tricked by Oya or Oshun into cutting off her ear and trying to feed it to Shango. She is syncretized with Saint Catherine of Siena.