Oshun Orishas – Dance

Ochún (also Oshún) is the Orisha of sweet water, love, beauty, and femininity. Her dance is considered the most sensual of all the orishas.

The dance

According to EcuRed, Ochún's dance is the most sensual of all the orishas. She laughs like Yemayá and shakes her arms so that her bracelets jingle; she raises her arms above her head to show off her charms, and asks for honey, a sign of the sweetness of love and life. She may mime rowing a small boat. When she combs her hair or looks at herself in a mirror, she looks down haughtily on the people around her.

Props

According to EcuRed, Ochún's attributes include:

  • A fan of yellow sandalwood or peacock feathers
  • A mirror, combs, rings and cowrie shells
  • Honey is not an attribute but an offering; in her dance she asks for it

Color and Dress

Ochún's colour is yellow. She wears a yellow dress tied with a sash, with a rhombus over the stomach and little bells here and there, plus five gold bracelets. Her bead necklaces are made of yellow and gold beads.

Toques: Chenche kururú is listed as a toque for Ochún in the furius.ca toque database and in Proyecto Orunmila's Lucumí dictionary. Ochún is also associated with the Iyesá.


📝 Sources