Iemanja - La Mère des Eaux - Mythologie Yoruba

Yemaya, also called Queen of the Sea, occupies an important place in Yoruba mythology and in Afro-Brazilian religions such as the Candomblé, Lumbanda and some Batuque traditions. Yemaya is a venerated figure known as the mother of all life and closely associated with the ocean, rivers and fertility. She is often represented in the form of a mermaid or a superb woman with floating hair, dressed in blue and white clothes. She is associated with the moon and the tides and has the ability to control the waves, thus protecting sailors and fishermen. Yemaya dominates various parts of nature and human existence. She has the ability to communicate with the spirits of the water. She is often invoked to protect her during sea voyages and she is also given the ability to cure diseases and improve the fertility of women. Yemaya represents the traits of compassion, empathy and strength thanks to her loving and protective maternal nature. There are many stories about Yemaya. Mythology affirms that Yemaya is from the primordial waters of the universe. According to mythology, Olorun created her and gave her the ability to manipulate the ocean and its inhabitants. Yemaya is considered to be one of the first to have descended to Earth. She occupies a special place as the mother of all Orishas. According to another legend, the beauty of Yemaya was so captivating that the sun fell in love with her and followed her every movement. The intense heat caused the evaporation of the waters, which made Yemaya angry. She decided to face it and used her powers to create a tsunami that carried the sun. Since that day, the sun has kept a good distance from Yemaya. Yemaya and Oshun once organized a contest to determine who would create the most beautiful accessory for hair. Oshun used precious materials such as gold, jewels and other noble objects, while Yemaya used only algae and shells. Seeing the creation of Yemaya, the judges were very impressed by her beauty and declared her the winner. The meeting between Oshun and Yemaya represents the convergence of the waters of the river, embodied by Oshun, and the ocean, personified by Yemaya. The commemoration of Yemaya Day is of great importance in Afro-Brazilian culture, especially in the cities of Salvador, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. The celebration, which takes place on February 2, attracts a large crowd who come to offer gifts to the Queen of the Sea. Miniature boats carrying offerings are thrown into the sea as a symbolic gesture to present gifts to Yemaya.