The Yoruba songs and prayers They are an important part of Afro-Cuban religion and culture. Through them, special homage is paid and devotion is shown to saints and Orishas, to relatives, to other religious, to Mother Earth, to the spirits of the ancestors ...
Practitioners of the Yoruba religion grant prayers and songs, a very spiritual meaning and closely linked to the deities of the pantheon and the practice of the Rule of Osha.
Praying correctly and showing affection, respect, faith and gratitude for the deities, for life, and for the land, is one of the basic precepts of the Yoruba.
And thus also sing in honor of the deities and call them that way, to establish a communicative and affectionate bond with them.
Paying honor and tribute to the deities
The prayers and songs They address Oloddumare, calling him by all names and recognizing him for being the Divine Creator and his omnipotence and the ancestors, firstly, calling them to be present and guide the devotees on their paths.
Thus, tribute is paid to the Orishas of the Yoruba pantheon, especially by calling the Guardian Angel of each specific person to protect and support them on their spiritual path. It is also sung to the mother (Iyatobi) and the father (Babatobi), the two most essential beings of the family and the mother in the saint or father in the saint.
The Yoruba also pray to Ara, the Earth, the planet, and to Ile, the ground we walk on.
Yoruba prayers and songs to the Orishas
There are multiple Yoruba religion chants and prayers destined to worship the Orishas and to establish communication with them.
Here are some with their translation into Spanish:
Prayer for Elegguá the little giant
OMi tuto, Ona tuto, tuto laroye, tuto Ilé, Eshu Agogo, Eshu Alagguana, Eshu Agotipongo, EshuAyomamaqueño, Moyubao Iyalocha Moyubao Iyabbona. Quincamanché Camaricú, Cama Omó, CamaIfi, Cama Oña, Cama Ayaré Unló Ona quebofi queboada.
I refresh you to open the way for me, with the permission of my elders, I ring the bell for you to open the door for me, also counting on my Guardian Angel, Godfather, Godmother and all the presents of the Yorubá Board. Health to me and all my children.
I pray for Shango the King of fire
Babá Mi Chango Ikawo ilé mi funi alaya titanchani nitosi ki kogmanu mi oro nigbati wa ibinú ki kigbe nina orun atí gbogbo.Omó nijin gbogbo wi kuele kuokuo nitosi dilowo ikawo ilé mi, iwo bagbe, Babá e kialean ni kialean ok atí wi Chango alanú obá layo ni na ilé ogbeo mi.
My Father, God of thunder, control my house, give me the radiant salvation so that I do not take your word, when I am angry, who screams in the sky and all my children here below we say with great respect, to comply with control, control my house . Remember, my Father, we call you from our hearts to kneel before your feet and tell you God of Thunder, Merciful King, rejoice on Earth. Cover me.
Prayer for Yemayá mother of fish
Orisha Obunrin dudú, kuelú re meye abayá ni re oyú, ayaba awó gba okí mi, Iyá ogá ni gbogbookuo, Yeye Omó eyá, lojunoyina ni re ta gbogbo akun nini iwo ni re olowo, nitosi re Omó terriba, adukueIyá
My holy black woman, with her seven stripes on her face, Queen Guess, receive greetings, Mother Owner of all the seas, Mother son of the fish, there far away you have your seat or throne, under the sea where you have your wealth for your Obedient child, Thank you, my mother.
Prayer for Obatala king of heads
Orichanlá Okonrin ati Obinrin ni layé, eledá no gbogbo nor gbogbo na darandara, atí burukú, Obá ati Ayaba afin, Ogá ni na tala gbgbo na cheche, Babá wa afin alano jekua Babá
My great Saint, Man and Woman of the world, creator of all good and bad, Albino King and Queen, Owner of purity and of all justices, Great Father of the world, My Protector and of all healthy good houses, Our Father Merciful Albino, Long Live, My Father, Thank You
I pray for Oggún the owner of the iron
Oggún will tie water bebenille Omó canilé cobi cobi, Oggún Aguanillé Omó atabale afebefun Ochosielquiveca, albure fun inya iré who illan iré who edió bani oké cuemi otolaya
All this My Father, you who have so much power on earth, I your son, I come to greet you, not with the interest that you give me your strength, but so that you overcome the difficulties of life.
I pray for Ochosi the vigilante
Ochosi Olugba ni gbogbo na oda ati aricha cheche ode kills if my ati gbogbo omá uile function okán ona iréati kuelure ofá hard gbogbo burukú ki wa nitosi ni oduke Babá Me.
Owner of all hunters and holy Justice, Hunter, do not sell me, and all children of the earth, give me a good path and with your arrows, for all evil that comes to me. Thank you Father.
The songs and prayers to the Orishas are prayers of love and faith, they are that bond that keeps us united to the immense energy that our deities possess, in a praise we invoke them to thank and intercede on our behalf.
If you want to see more prayers and prayers I leave the following post of Prayers for the Orishas:
What does it mean to Become a Saint in the Osha? The Children of the Orishas
How to talk to Yemayá and Olokun? Advice and prayers
