Names:  Ochosi Ode Mata, Oxossi, Ochosi, Osawsi, Oxosi

Prayer Call: Ochosi Ode mata obá akofá ayé o unsó iré o wa mi Ochosi omode ache

Genealogy: Son of Yemaya, also sometimes represented as Ogun’s brother

Colours: Green and Yellow / Turquoise and Amber

Attributes:  Crossbow, Arrows, Hunting Tools

Domains: Forests, Wilderness, Jails, Courthouses

Temperament: Just, Fair, Secretive, Wise, Hunter, Skilled, Intelligent

Oxossi is a hunter and is one of the four Orixas known as the ‘Osha Odde’ or Warriors, with Eleggua, Ogun and Osun, in both Afro-Cuban Santeria and Afro-Brazilian Candomble religions. These Orixas and particularly Eleggua, Ogun and Oxossi work together for their followers’ spiritual development: Eleggua opens the way, Ogun clears it, and Oxossi helps to attain goals.

During the times of the slave trade, the Yoruba slaves brought to South-America and the Caribbean and their descendants weren’t allowed their own religious practices, and Catholicism was often forced on them. Therefore many Catholic saints came to be associated with Yoruba deities, and disguised, in order for them to be able to worship them without attracting attention. Accordingly, Oxossi became associated with San Sebastian in Rio de Janeiro, with Saint George in Bahia and with Saint Norbert in Cuba, and their festivities are still celebrated on the same day as their associated saints, on 20th January in Rio, 23rd April in Bahia and 6th June in Cuba.

Oxossi is associated on one hand with forests, and with abundance, of fruits, food and energy, and he has great knowledge of all the herbs of the forest, therefore he is a very important Orixa in Brazil due to the proximity of the immense Amazon forest. He is often portrayed as a solitary character and as a shaman due to his knowledge of herbs, that he prepares alone in the forest.








On the other hand, Oxossi is also associated with justice and jails and is the patron of those who have problems with the law and those who want justice. It is said that he is always hunting righteousness, and law enforcement individuals are under his protection and guidance. Oxossi does not rest until the ones who did wrong are hunted and captured.  He also has the power of finding the light, in other words, discovering answers and helping people find the right solution to their problems.

It is interesting to note that when Oxossi was not on good terms with Ogun, he became the first and only Orixa to ever declare all out warfare on Ogun, the "god of war". There were no winners, and both Orixas became inseparable friends and brothers out of respect for each other's truly horrifying displays of power.


Dancing Oxossi:

Oxossi is a hunter and therefore, like all other Orixas, his dance represents his personality and attributes. His steps represent him either galloping on a horse or hunting solitarily with his crossbow and arrows. ‘’He dances with a bow and an arrow mimetically rendered by holding out the index and thumb on both hands and touching the inside tip of one index finger to the tip of the opposite thumb; the right hand leads. With the hands in this position, the arms become a natural reign for his horse, while simultaneously serving as the bow.’’ (Scott). The dancer is usually dressed in a green and yellow gown or skirt and animal skin and sometimes carries a crossbow.

Written by Emmanuelle