Babalu Aye

Omolú

In the cult of Orishas, Babalu Aye (also known as Omolu, Shonponno, Obaluaye and Sakpata) is the spirit of illness and disease. He is an Orisha, the son of Yemaja and Orungan.^{[citation needed]}

Origins of this deity trace back to the Fon traditions of Yoruba mythology, and appear in Cuban Palo Mayombe (as Pata en Llaga or Cobayende), Haitian Voodoo Brasilian Umbanda (as Abaluaye) and Candomblé Ketu (as Obaluaiê).

In Cuban Santeria, Babalu Aye has been syncretized with Saint Lazarus.

In Dahomey mythology, he is venerated as Sakpata, god of smallpox.

He has been originally associated with smallpox, but more recently is appealed for healing AIDS.^[1]

Babalu Aye is traditionally pictured in blue, brown, red, white, purple, and is offered rice, wheat, corn, beans, chickpeas, garlic, onions, smoked fish and possum in divination rituals.^[2]

Appearance in Popular Culture

• "Babalu" was the signature song of "Ricky Ricardo," the character played by Desi Arnaz in the classic television series "I Love Lucy." In its sixth and final season, Ricky becomes part owner of the fictional "Tropicana" nightclub, where he was a regular performer, and renames it "Club Babalu."

• Paul Simon makes reference to Babalu Aye in his song "Rhythm of the Saints", which first appeared on the 1990 album of the same name. The lyrics engimatically state: "Balalu-aye spins on his crutches/ Says leave if you want/ If you want to leave."

References

1. ^ Description of Babaluaye
2. ^ Babalu Aye in Ifa/Orisha tradition

Afro-American Religions
Religions	Candomblé · Hoodoo · Kumina · Obeah · Palo · Quimbanda · Santería (Lukumí) · Spiritual Baptist · Umbanda · Vodou/Voodoo · Winti
Deities	Babalu Aye · Eshu · Iansan · Mami Wata · Obàtálá · Ogun · Ọlọrun · Orunmila · Ọṣun · Shango · Yemaja
Roots	Ifá, Oriṣa (Yorùbá) · Lwa (Dahomey) · Nkisi (Kongo) · Catholicism (Portugal, Spain)

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