Osumare (Òṣùmàrè): The Rainbow Serpent in Yoruba Cosmology

Introduction

Within the intricate cosmology of the Yoruba people, Osumare (Òṣùmàrè) occupies a unique and liminal position as the Orisa (divine principle) embodying the rainbow, movement, transformation, and the cyclical nature of existence. Known in Brazil’s Candomblé as Oxumaré, and also venerated in Vodun as Dan or Damballah Wedo, Osumare represents the union of opposites—heaven and earth, male and female, spiritual and material—symbolized by the serpent and the rainbow.

Mythology and Iconography

Osumare is most often depicted as a great, luminous serpent or as a figure whose body is both human and serpentine, frequently adorned with rainbow colors. The rainbow itself, a bridge between the sky and the earth, is a visual metaphor for Osumare’s role as a cosmic connector and conveyor of ase (vital force). In many myths, Osumare is described as the messenger who carries offerings, prayers, and blessings between the human and divine realms.

Osumare is also considered androgynous or dual-gendered in nature, sometimes manifesting as male, other times as female, and often as both simultaneously. This fluidity is not seen as paradoxical, but as the very expression of balance and completeness—a concept central to Yoruba thought.

Cosmological Role

Osumare’s most profound function is the maintenance of cyclical order. In Yoruba cosmology, the world is sustained by cycles: of water, seasons, birth and death, prosperity and loss. Osumare is the force that ensures the rains return, the rivers flow, and abundance circulates. The Yoruba phrase "Osumare n bo" ("Osumare is coming") is traditionally said when a rainbow appears, signaling renewal, transformation, or divine movement in the community.

Osumare is also a patron of wealth, prosperity, and movement (both literal travel and social mobility). The serpent’s undulating motion is associated with the flow of money, trade, and blessings. In divination, Osumare is invoked in matters involving change, evolution, reconciliation, and restoration of balance.

Ritual, Offerings, and Taboos

Osumare’s veneration includes offerings of water, colorful beads, fresh vegetables, snails. In the diaspora, rainbows, iridescent fabrics, and coiled serpentine motifs are often used on Osumare’s altars. Some taboos include the unnecessary killing of snakes, especially rainbow boas, and disrespect for the cyclical rhythms of nature.

Osumare is frequently called upon for healing, particularly in cases where imbalance—physical, emotional, or spiritual—must be restored. The oriki (praise poetry) of Osumare invokes both the gentle rain and the torrential storm, highlighting the Orisa’s power over all phases of water and transition.

Osumare in the Diaspora

As Yoruba traditions crossed the Atlantic, Osumare’s veneration was preserved and transformed in Brazil, the Caribbean, and the Americas. In Candomblé, Oxumaré remains a central figure, honored with festivals, dances, and elaborate rituals. In Haitian Vodou, the serpent is syncretized as Damballah Wedo, maintaining the themes of movement, healing, and cosmic order.

Contemporary Significance

Osumare’s symbolism is more relevant than ever in an age defined by ecological crisis, social fragmentation, and the need for integration of difference. Osumare teaches that change, fluidity, and the embracing of opposites are not sources of chaos but of harmony and renewal. To honor Osumare is to honor diversity, adaptability, and the ongoing cycles that sustain life.