Similar if not identical to the African ORISHAS.

Both ‘Orisha’ and ‘Oricha’ are valid spellings; we have used both to differentiate the African and Caribbean version. We hope to avoid confusion — but have probably added to it.

Once there were between 400 and 1,700 but you can have too much of a good thing. Cuba decided they had too many ORICHAS and whittled them down to sixteen. Some of them have been moved on or taken early retirement. The ones not mentioned are mostly the same as the African Spirits from which they are derived. For example, INLE, OBATALA, OLOKUN, ORUNMILA, OSANYIN, Oshosi, OSHUN, SHANGO and YEMAYA.

Article last updated on 30 November 2018 by the Godchecker data dwarves.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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