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{{Short description|Yoruba orisha}}
{{for-multi|the state in Nigeria|Osun State|the river in Nigeria|Osun River}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Yoruba
| name = Oshun
| other_names = Ọ̀ṣun, Ochún, Oxúm
| member_of = the [[Orisha]]
| venerated_in = [[Yoruba religion]], [[Dahomey mythology]], [[Vodun]], [[Santería]], [[Candomblé]], [[Haitian Vodou]], [[Dominican Vudú]]
| image = WLA haa Kneeling Female Figure Devotee of Oshun Yoruba people 2.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| deity_of = Goddess of Water, Purity, Fertility, Love, and Sensuality
| region = [[South West (Nigeria)|Nigeria]], [[Benin]], [[Latin America]], [[Haiti]], [[Cuba]]
| ethnic_group = [[Yoruba people]], [[Fon people]]
| spouse = [[Changó]], [[Erinle]]
| color = Yellow, coral, gold, white
| festivals = Osun-Osogbo
| symbols = [[Hand fan|Abẹ̀bẹ̀]], gold, bronze, amber, pumpkin, honey, [[mead]], wine, [[confections]], orange
| animals = Vulture, peacock
| number = Five
| mother = [[Yemoja]]
| greek_equivalent = [[Aphrodite]]
| norse_equivalent = [[Freyja]], [[Frigg]]
| roman_equivalent = [[Venus]]
| equivalent1 = [[Sauska]]
| equivalent1_type = Hittite
| canaanite_equivalent = [[Astarte]]
}}
[[File:Templo Osun3.jpg|thumb|Shrine to Oshun in the [[Osun-Osogbo|Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove]]]]

'''Oshun''' (also '''Ọṣun''', '''Ochún''', and '''Oxúm''') is the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] [[orisha]] associated with love, sexuality, fertility, femininity, water, destiny, divination, purity, and beauty, and the [[Osun River]], and of wealth and prosperity in the Yoruba religion.<ref name="Monaghan2014" /><ref name="Pinn2006" /><ref name="Murrell2009" /> She is considered the most popular and venerated of the 401 orishas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oshun {{!}} Yoruba deity {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oshun |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

In the mythology, Oshun was once the [[queen consort]] to King [[Shango]] of [[Oyo Empire|Oyo]], and [[deified]] following her death, honored at the Osun-Osogbo Festival, a two-week-long annual festival that usually takes place in August, at the [[Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove|Oṣun-Osogbo Sacred Grove]] in [[Osogbo]].<ref name="OkayAfrica2015" /><ref name="en" /><ref name="Murrell2009" /> A violín is a type of musical ceremony in Regla de Ocha performed for Osún. It includes both European classical music and Cuban popular music.<ref>[http://cubacounterpoints.com/archives/4265]{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} A VIOLIN FOR OCHÚN-WITH REGGAETON! By Johnny Frías. Cuba Counterpoints, Nov 2016</ref>

== Mythology ==
According to the Ifa Literary Corpus, Oshun was the only female Irunmole (primordial spirit) sent to assist [[Shango]] to create the world by [[Olodumare]], the Supreme God. The other spirits sent ignored Oshun, who went to Shango for guidance. One version of the story claims that female spirits were tempted to take matters into their own hands, but all of their creative attempts failed because they acted without male spiritual leadership. This version was possibly inspired by Abrahamic religions, with a patriarchal influence.<ref>Kumari, Ayele. "Demystifying Iyami". Www.Ayelekumari.com. Retrieved 18 August 2016.</ref>

Another version, one more consistent with the beginning of the story, claims that the male spirits attempted to make the world without female influence, and this exclusion is what caused the world to fail. Regardless of the version, the myth ends with Shango forcing the other spirits hand to respect Oshun as they would him.<ref>Elibuibon, Yemi (2013). Invisible Powers of the Metaphysical World: A Peep into the world of Witches. Ancient Philosophy Institute. p. 110. LCCN 2009351910.</ref> Following her death, Olodumare granted her the powers of an orisha.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Iyanifa: Women of Wisdom|last=Kumari|first=Ayele|publisher=maat Group|year=2013|isbn=978-1500492892|location=uSA|pages=40}}</ref>

== Worship ==

=== Yoruba ===
Oshun is the divine patroness of the [[Osun River]] in Nigeria, which bears her name. The river has its source in [[Ekiti State]] in the west of Nigeria and passes through the city of [[Oshogbo|Osogbo]], where [[Osun-Osogbo|Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove]], the principal sanctuary of the deity, is located.<ref name="Murrell2009" /> Oṣun is honored at the Osun-Osogbo Festival, a two-week-long annual festival that usually takes place in August, at the Oṣun-Osogbo Sacred Grove on the banks of the river.<ref name="OkayAfrica2015" /><ref name="en" />

=== Brazil ===
Ọshun was adopted into [[Afro-Brazilian religion]]s, retaining her role as the goddess of love, beauty, and waters, with the addition of power over wealth and prosperity. Followers seek help for romantic problems from Oshun; the orishá is also responsible for marriage and other relationships. As the orishá of financial life, she is also called the "Lady of Gold". This referred to copper at one time for being the most valuable metal of the time. Oshun is worshiped at rivers and waterfalls, and more rarely, near mineral water sources. She is a symbol of sensitivity and is identified by weeping.<ref name="en" />

===Candomblé===
[[File:Oxum Ekodide.jpg|thumb|The [[Yoruba religion|Yoruba]] goddess ''Oshun'' sometime [[syncretised]] to the Virgin Mary by African believers of the Yoruba religion]]
In [[Candomblé]] Bantu, Oshun is called Nkisi Ndandalunda, the Lady of Fertility and Moon. Hongolo and Kisimbi have similarities with Oshun, and the three are often confused.

In Candomblé Ketu, Oshun is the deity of fresh water; the patron of gestation and fecundity; and receives the prayers of women who wish to have children and protect them during pregnancy. Osun also protects small children until they begin to speak; she is affectionately called "Mamãe" ("Mama") by her devotees.<ref name="en"/> Plants associated with Osun in Brazil are aromatic, sweet, and often yellow, reflecting the qualities of the Orisha. They include mints (''Lamiacaea''). Osun is associated with the folha-de-dez-réis (''Hydrocotyle cybelleta''), a plant of the pennywort family. Many species are brilliant yellow, reflecting Osun's association with gold and wealth. She is also associated with folha-da-fortuna, or ''Kalanchoe pinnata''.<ref name="al" />

==Ozun==
'''Ozun''' is another major [[Orisha]] that is distinct from Oṣun, the latter who is also called "Oshun" and "Ochún" in the [[Santería]] religion of the [[Caribbean]] ([[Cuba]], [[Puerto Rico]] and [[Trinidad]]) brought over by [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] people during the transatlantic slave trade. While Ozun is a masculine Orisha associated with [[John the Baptist]], Ochún is syncretized with [[Our Lady of Charity del Cobre|Our Lady of Charity]].<ref>Olupọna, Jacob O. K, and Terry Rey. Òrìşà Devotion As World Religion: The Globalization of Yorùbá Religious Culture. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press, 2008. Print, pg.395.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Arugba Olokun.jpg|An Arugba at the Osun-Osogbo festival
File:Arugba Osun.jpg|An Arugba at the Osun-Osogbo festival
File:Carybè, rilievi degli orixas, oxun.JPG|A wood carving of Oshun by [[Carybé]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="al">{{cite book | last = Alexiades | first = Miguel | title = Mobility and migration in indigenous Amazonia : contemporary ethnoecological perspectives | publisher = Berghahn Books | location = New York | year = 2009 | isbn = 9781845455637 }}</ref>

<ref name="en">{{cite book | last = Lopes | first = Nei | title = Enciclopédia brasileira da diáspora africana | publisher = Selo Negro Edições | location = São Paulo, SP | year = 2004 | isbn = 8587478214 |page=505}}</ref>


<ref name="Monaghan2014">{{cite book|last1=Monaghan|first1=Monaghan|title=Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines|date=2014|publisher=New World Library|isbn=9781608682188|page=15}}</ref>
<ref name="Murrell2009">{{cite book|last1=Murrell|first1=Nathaniel Samuel|title=Afro-Caribbean Religions: An Introduction to Their Historical, Cultural, and Sacred Traditions|date=2009|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=9781439901755|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9h5KDRfZ-JgC&pg=PA35}}</ref>
<ref name="Pinn2006">{{cite book|last1=Coleman|first1=Monica A.|editor1-last=Pinn|editor1-first=Anthony B.|title=African American Religious Cultures|date=2006|isbn=9781576074701|page=501|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xEEIY4Q1ZAIC&pg=PA133|chapter=African American Religion and Gender}}</ref>
<ref name="OkayAfrica2015">{{cite web|last1=Martine|first1=Ife|title=A Yoruba Festival Tradition Continues: 50 Incredible Photos Celebrating The River Goddess Oshun|url=http://www.okayafrica.com/culture-2/osun-osogbo-festival-2015-photos/|website=OkayAfrica.com|date=6 October 2015 |access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref>

}}

==Further reading==
* Ajiabde, G. Olusola. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110823192758/http://opus.ub.uni-bayreuth.de/volltexte/2005/188/pdf/WP_N_4_Negotiating_Performance.pdf ''Negotiating Performance: Osun in the Verbal and Visual Metaphors''], Bayreuth, Working Papers, 2005.
* Afolabi, Kayode. ''Osun Osogbo - Sacred People and Sacred Places'', Charleston 2006.
* Badejo, Diedre, ''Oshun Seegesi: The Elegant Deity of Wealth, Power, and Femininity'', Asmara 1996.
* De La Torre, Miguel A., "Dancing with Ochún: Imagining How a Black Goddess Became White," in ''Black Religion and Aesthetics: Religious Thought and Life in Africa and the African Diaspora'', Anthony Pinn, ed., Cambridge University Press, pp. 113–134.
* Fakayode, Fayemi Fatunde, ''Osun: The Manly Woman'', Athelia Henrietta Press 2004.
* Murphy, Joseph M.; Sanford, Mei-Mei. ''Osun Across the Waters: A Yoruba Goddess in African and the Americas''. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001.
* Probst, Peter, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=MLVL1Cz9L8UC Osogbo and the Art of Heritage: Monuments, Deities, and Money]''. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2011.

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924000329/http://www.en.santeria.fr/?s=oshun Santeria.fr All about Oshun]

{{Orisa-Ifá}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Beauty goddesses]]
[[Category:Brazilian deities]]
[[Category:Fertility goddesses]]
[[Category:Folk saints]]
[[Category:Knowledge goddesses]]
[[Category:Love and lust goddesses]]
[[Category:Santería]]
[[Category:Sea and river goddesses]]
[[Category:Water goddesses]]
[[Category:Yoruba goddesses]]

Oshun - Revision history

imported>MarciaTiedeNU: added missing preposition