Orisha Tradition
Orisha Tradition, also known as Regla de Ocha or Santeria, is an African diasporic religion that originated in West Africa and was brought to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade. It is rooted in Yoruba culture and spirituality, specifically from Nigeria, and incorporates elements of Catholicism due to syncretization during the colonial period. The tradition centers around the worship of a pantheon of deities called Orishas, who serve as intermediaries between humans and the supreme creator Olodumare. Practitioners seek guidance, protection, and healing through rituals, divination, music, dance, and offerings to the Orishas. The tradition emphasizes morality, community, and personal transformation, and is often passed down orally from elder to initiate.