Yemaya: Orisha, Goddess, and Queen of the Sea

"Yemaya, Queen of the Sea, first emerged in Yorubaland (now in modern Nigeria). A primordial deity, considered the Mother of All, some perceive her to be at the root of numerous ancient goddesses, including Isis. During the Middle Passage, Yemaya accompanied her enslaved devotees to the Western Hemisphere, and through her associations with the Virgin Mary, devotion to Yemaya spread throughout Latin America. Cuban immigrants brought Yemaya with them to the US. No longer a local water spirit, she became an internationally beloved goddess, whose devotees derive from numerous traditions and who worship her in her many fluid forms. Yemaya currently ranks among the most beloved goddesses worldwide"--