Babalu Aye

Babalú Ayé / Obalúayé - Omolu - Şànpònná ( Omolu, Shopona, Obaluaye, Sakpata; Brazilian: Obaluaê - Omulu - Xapanã - SAPATA ) is in the religion of the Yoruba and the Brazilian Candomblé the Orisha of plagues and epidemics (especially smallpox), by AIDS, eczema and other infectious diseases and hopeless suffering. He is the anger and the heat of the earth over which a pathogenic wind blows.

His face is destroyed by smallpox scars, which is why he wears dried and woven palm leaves on his face, adorned with cowrie shells in order to disguise the pain and suffering.

His archetype is that of masochistic people who like to wear their sufferings to the public and are unable to be happy.

Obaluaê is the son of Nanã and the brother of Eua, Ossaim and Oxumaré.

Bibliography

• Reginaldo Prandi (2001): Obaluaê. In: Mitologia dos Orixás. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, pp. 202-221.