Who is Oduduwa?

The Oduduwa are nothing more than the Orixás of Candomblé. These spiritual representations for African religions have great importance for the faithful who follow these beliefs. The main powers of these deities are the force to promote a natural event, such as wind and rain.

Guardian of nature, the Oduduwa is a wise and sagacious entity that assists and protects its followers in order to use its elements for the well-being of the environment, as well as being responsible for life throughout the universe.

Not only for the positive energies and powers, Oduduwa is known, but also for his difficult temperament that affects the relationship with his followers. For a faithful to make an offering to the entity, there are many particularities and requirements that must be met.

Moreover, one cannot define Oduduwa in one gender, because different peoples and countries, consider the entity as a woman or as a man. What never changes are their greatness, importance, representativeness and strong personality.

Even with so many representations and importance, the Oduduwa orixás, who are the first in the world, do not have great content about the entities by books and internet.

What they say about the orixá Oduduwa

In the African matrix religions, Oduduwa was in charge of the creation of the world and all that we can define as life. In other words, we can say that this deity was responsible for the development of all living beings existing on the face of the earth.

In Candomblé, the main belief that believes in Oduduwa, says that this entity contributed considerably in the development of the world, from an initiative of Oxalá, who believed that it was not so successful.

What is candomblé?

Candomblé is a religion of African origin, in which worship the belief of a deity with ancestry, being the orixás, voduns or inquices. This religious manifestation was brought from Africa by slaves at the time of slavery here. The surprise deity of this belief is Olorum, Mawu, or Zambi, depending on the country.

This religion is one of the most prejudiced in the world, often being persecuted by the Catholic Church and other Protestant beliefs, mainly by racism and discrimination that these institutions have on Candomblé and those who follow this philosophy of life.

Historically, in Candomblé, the faithful hold periodic parties to celebrate their faith, in addition to praising the entities, promoting rodas of dances and drumming, offering the event for all the deities of the African religions.

What are orixás?

The orixás are entities of the religions of African matrix, such as Candomblé and Umbanda. These deities, according to Yoruba mythology, Oduduwa created the world and then the orixás to take care of living beings, serving as a link between human beings and the inaccessible supreme god, Olodumaré.

In history, it is known that there are more than 400 types of orixás, in Brazil some of them are more famous, such as Ogum (orixá of war), Iemanjá (orixá of water and fertility), Exu (orixá of the message), Oxalá (orixá of peace) and Oxóssi (orixá of hunting and forests).

The orixás are able to bring messages, advice and warnings to the followers of these religions, being true messengers and intercessors between the real world and the plane of spirituality, in which they inhabit.

Oduduwa in candomblé

In Candomblé, Oduduwa is seen as an orixá, being a non-manifesting entity, because of its strength and power, this deity can only be invoked in xangô parties. Oduduwa has the representation of the feminine gender, connecting the waters, reproduction and the land, in favor of women's bodies, acting mainly in menstruation, physiology and fecundation.

Oduduwa mythology and the creation of the world

In the creation of the world, according to Yoruba mythology, Oduduwa developed all living things, and worked to be a "bridge" between the supreme being and human beings, with the intention of mediating this relationship.

Oduduwa, alongside Obatalá (King of the White Cloth), rooted the beginning of creation for all the orixás and gave birth to life on earth.

Elements to relate to Oduduwa

Some factors make the identity of Oduduwa differentiated, this deity has some characteristics that can be perceived from their colors, offerings, foods, greetings and more.

See below for more details on each particularity that makes one unique. Also, learn a little more about the meaning behind each Oduduwa symbol and what it influences.

Oduduwa day of the week

In the Oduduwa belief, Friday is the most sacred day of the week, being the most favorable date to hold cultural events, offer offerings and hold conferences. This syncretism, factors that characterize a religion, are indications that on this day the faithful of this doctrine can take advantage of positive energy in their favor in the realization of activities.

Salutation to Oduduwa

The greeting to Oduduwa is given by the phrase Oba Orum Oduduwa! words said at the time of greeting a faithful, in which incorporates the entity in a party or session of Candomblé or any other religion that believes in this belief.

Oduduwa Symbol

A warrior with a white hat and cloak, holding a pole with a rooster on top, this is the representation that manages to be more faithful to the identity of Oduduwa. The black-skinned figure can be considered female or male, depending on the country.

Oduduwa Colors

The colors that symbolize Oduduwa are predominantly opal white and ivory (light color), representatives of a calmer and harmonious energy that transmits peace and tranquility to the faithful of this belief.

Foods of Oduduwa

Food as a whole has great significance for the Oduduwa, food is seen as an offering for the completion of work, demonstration of gratitude for achievements, gesture of nobility, ritualistic act and in the request for requests. The Oduduwa considers food sacred.

Offerings to Oduduwa

When you want to perform a sympathy with the help of Oduduwa, the main offerings to be offered to this entity are a kind of pasta, similar to a canjica, made from a white pigeon watered with bee honey, called Ègbo Eiyelé Funfun Oyin is the food that is part of the symbologies of Oduduwa.

More about Oduduwa

Oduduwa is a powerful orixá who carries with him powers that include magic and Axé. These two energies drive social causes. Oduduwa is considered the temple of the orixás because of the size of his importance in African religions.

Below, you will learn other curiosities about Oduduwa and how this entity manifests, incorporates, their prayers, genres, teachings and characteristics.

Oduduwa Features

For those who believe, Oduduwa is considered the father of the orixás, mainly for having created and given meaning to life. The deity is blind, besides having a strong personality and difficult to deal with. Oduduwa has such considerable strength and energy that sometimes makes him a little authoritarian, and there may even be fits of rage because of his difficult temperament.

When the faithful make offerings on behalf of Oduduwa, their requests are not answered immediately, because Oduduwa requires some peculiar attributes at the time of the request.

Many still believe that Oduduwa is an ice-hearted being with a short fuse, who treats everything with coldness, and acts with a more incisive manner. In other words, we can say that this deity is not at all friendly.

Neither man nor woman

The gender of Oduduwa is one of the main taboos surrounding the mythology of the deity. Some consider him to be a strong and sagacious man, while others classify him as a woman of firm wrist and showy virtue.

Well, to be sure one can not say anything, what is known is that Oduduwa is an entity with great power that was able to give life to everything on the planet. The deity is a legendary warrior who made history and was responsible for all important developments for living beings.

Is it incorporated in Brazil?

Oduduwa can be incorporated in Brazil through the traditional festivals of Candomblé. These festive events, celebrating entities, promotes spiritual services. It is a meeting of the faithful with the divinities, through energy, faith and incorporation.

This is one of the most symbolic events for those who believe in Oduduwa, because by being incorporated into a person, the deity can bring powerful messages that will serve as a warning, sign or advice to the faithful.

Prayer to Oduduwa

As Oduduwa is a very significant figure for African religions, in Brazil especially Candomblé, this entity also had its own prayer. A soothing to the heart for the thousands of followers of this doctrine who believe in the strength and energy of Oduduwa to bring peace of mind.

As we can see, this prayer is a message of request sent especially by the faithful of this belief, in which they also praise the entity Odudua for all its greatness, protection, healing and virtue.

Check out the full Oduduwa Prayer below:

"Oduduwa, greetings!

My father, who creates the behavior,

Oduduwa, who makes people have good conduct,

The harmonizer of the city of Ifé,

The warrior who, upon waking in the morning, actively walks throughout the city of Ifé.

The benefactor who doesn't let people go hungry,

The prosperous one who sows prosperity in the lives of others,

The good judge who judges for and against,

The lord of the city of Ifé

Oduduwa, the victor who wars and wins.

He heard the sound of the rifle in the war and did not run away.

Oduduwa, who appears in the air with a cloud.

He warred and brought many slaves.

He is the orixá of those who seek luck.

Everything he talks about happens,

Everything he thinks happens,

One who possessed active magic.

Oduduwa, rise from the earth,

May you rise with money and also with prosperity for me."

What does Oduduwa have to teach us?

It is essential to understand the size and magnitude that Oduduwa represents for religions of African origin around the world. The entity is considered the head of the universe, holder of supreme power and actions that gave life to living beings.

This religious figure is neither a man nor a woman, he is just an entity that gave origin to all the other orixás we know today. Oduduwa is the brain of the planet, for those who believe.

Oduduwa teaches us that with wit, willpower and positive energy, we are able to achieve everything we desire, as well as contribute to the success of the other individual who shares the same society with us.

Besides, it's a lesson that not always all those people with authoritarian and strong personalities are individuals of bad character, on the contrary, they can be powerful and help you when needed.