Nana Buruku: Grandmother of All Orishas

Nana Buruku is remembered in many African and diaspora traditions as one of the oldest of spirits, a presence that existed long before rivers carved their paths or the first names of the Orishas were spoken. She is creation in its most mysterious form, not a sudden burst of light, but a deep, steady unfolding. Her energy feels like cool earth beneath the feet, like the pull of moonlit tides, like the calm voice of an elder who has watched many lifetimes rise and fall.

Across Yoruba, Fon, Vodun, and Afro-Caribbean traditions, she is honored as a primordial mother whose influence lies beneath countless spiritual lineages. Some remember her as the force that shaped the earliest movements of the world; others know her as a wise elder whose presence guides cycles of fertility, birth, death, and renewal. Through each of these tellings, she remains a matriarchal anchor: grounding, protective, and endlessly patient.

Her nature is slow and steady, never hurried or forceful. To honor her is to step into her rhythm: a rhythm of listening more than speaking, observing more than acting, and allowing healing to unfold in its own time.

To understand her presence more deeply, we look to the ancient stories that trace her journey across continents and centuries.

The Origins of Nana Buruku

Because she comes from the oldest layers of oral tradition, the precise origin of Nana Buruku is difficult to trace. Scholars speak of her as a remnant of ancient Mother-Goddess traditions, yet practitioners experience her as far more than a historical echo. She is the quiet presence that holds creation together: the mud from which life emerges, the moon that governs tides and women’s cycles, the ancestor who remembers what the living have forgotten.

In Africa, she is known as Nana Buluku or Nanan-bouclou; in the diaspora, her name shifts, but her essence remains. In Candomblé, she is honored as Nanã, guardian of mud, swamps, memory, and the slow work of rebirth. These variations demonstrate the enduring and adaptable nature of her presence, which spans continents and centuries.

Her temperament reflects this ancient wisdom. She is compassionate but not indulgent, protective but never frivolous. Those who call upon her must do so with sincerity, humility, and respect. She teaches that all growth begins in stillness, that all creation begins in darkness, and that the deepest healing comes through patience.

Her Relationship with Other Orishas

Nana Buruku’s lineage begins in the deepest layers of West African cosmology. In the oldest Vodun and Dahomey traditions, she is honored as the mother of the divine twins Mawu and Lisa: moon and sun, night and day, the coolness of intuition and the heat of vitality. Through their union, balance enters the world, and creation gains its rhythm, its seasons, and its order. Mawu and Lisa carry forward the vastness of their mother’s power, giving shape to the forces that sustain life.

As her influence traveled through the African diaspora, Nana Buruku’s presence began to echo in additional spiritual lineages. In some traditions, she is revered as a grandmother figure whose wisdom extends into the realms of well-known Orishas. The sweetness of Oshun, the healing of Babalú-Ayé, the grounded strength of Iroko, and the shimmering cycles of Ochumare, also known as Oxumaré or Osumare, all reflect aspects of the cosmic balance she set into motion.

In certain Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian traditions, she is sometimes viewed as an elder or primordial expression of Yemaya, not as the same spirit but as the ancient waters from which Yemaya’s vast maternal energy emerges. These interpretations recognize her as the original wellspring whose presence flows through generations of deities, shaping the spiritual world with the quiet authority of one who remembers the first dawn.

Across all these lineages, Nana Buruku remains the steady center: the guiding elder whose influence continues to echo through rivers, forests, healing paths, and cycles of transformation.

Nana Buruku: Protector of Women

Nana Buruku’s protection rests most deeply with women and with the sacred transitions that shape their lives. She watches over pregnancy, childbirth, and the emotional thresholds where old selves fall away and new ones begin. Women often seek her guidance when they need grounding, clarity, or the quiet strength that comes from an elder spirit who has witnessed countless lifetimes. Though she moves most closely with priestesses and feminine spaces, her firmness is not a barrier but a reflection of the immense responsibility she carries as a guardian of life and its mysteries.

Her presence is also tied to the places where spirit and matter meet, such as swamps, mud, hospitals, and cemeteries, landscapes that mirror her role in birth, death, and the slow work of renewal. These spaces echo her steady rhythm, reminding those who honor her that creation and transformation often rise from stillness, patience, and the unseen depths of the earth.

The Image of Nana Buruku

Nana Buruku is often depicted as a strong, large, old dark-skinned woman, draped in robes of pink, purple, and black and wearing jewelry fashioned from the beads and shells of the waters she watches over. These attributes - her robes, jewelry, and spiritual broom - all hold specific meanings and significance in relation to Nana Buruku and her role as a guardian and protector of women, pregnancy, and female fertility.

Nana Buruku's Robes

Nana Buruku's robes are often seen as representing her wisdom and spiritual authority and are thought to be imbued with powerful protective energies. The colors of her robes - pink, purple, and black - are often associated with spiritual transformation, healing, and protection, and may be chosen for their symbolic significance in relation to Nana Buruku's role as a guardian and protector.

Nana Buruku's Jewelry

Nana Buruku's jewelry is also thought to hold symbolic meaning and significance. The beads and shells that adorn her are often associated with the waters she watches over, and may be seen as representing her connection to the earth and the tides. These beads and shells are often believed to be imbued with powerful protective energies and may be used as totems and talismans in the worship and veneration of Nana Buruku.

Nana Buruku's Spiritual Broom

Nana Buruku's spiritual broom is another important attribute and is often depicted as a hook-shaped broom that she uses to guide her spiritual children on the proper path. This broom is thought to represent Nana Buruku's wisdom and guidance and may be seen as a symbol of her role as a guardian and protector. In some traditions, the broom is also associated with the power of purification and cleansing and may be used in rituals related to spiritual transformation and renewal.

The Symbols Associated With Nana Buruku

The moon, leaves, Baobab tree, and angelfish are all significant symbols in the mythology and worship of Nana Buruku. Each of these symbols holds a specific meaning and significance in relation to Nana Buruku and her role as a guardian and protector of women, pregnancy, and female fertility.

The Moon

The moon is often associated with Nana Buruku, due to her connection to the earth and the tides. In many traditional African cultures, the moon is seen as a powerful symbol of feminine energy and fertility and is often invoked in rituals related to childbirth, menstruation, and other aspects of women's health. Nana Buruku is said to embody the spirit of the moon and is revered as a guardian of all things feminine and maternal.

The Leaves of the Baobab Tree

Leaves, particularly those of the Baobab tree, are also closely associated with Nana Buruku. The Baobab tree is a species of tree native to many parts of Africa and is known for its massive trunk and long lifespan. In many traditional African cultures, the Baobab tree is seen as a symbol of strength, endurance, and fertility, and is often revered as a sacred tree. Nana Buruku is said to embody the spirit of the Baobab tree and is often depicted holding or wearing leaves from this tree as a symbol of her strength and wisdom.

The Angelfish

The angelfish is another significant symbol in the mythology of Nana Buruku. This brightly colored fish is known for its peaceful and graceful nature and is often associated with spiritual transformation and healing. In traditional African religion, angelfish are seen as a symbol of Nana Buruku's healing powers and are often invoked in rituals related to health and well-being.

The Number Seven

The number seven is also significant in the worship of Nana Buruku, and is seen as representing spiritual perfection and completion. It may be associated with the seven major Orishas - also known as The Seven African Powers - or with the seven chakras of the human body. This number is seen as representing spiritual perfection and completion and is often invoked in rituals and ceremonies related to Nana Buruku.

Preparing a Space for Nana Buruku

Before honoring Nana Buruku, create an atmosphere that mirrors her calm, earthy nature. Begin by cleansing the space with water, smoke, or a simple prayer for clarity. A purple or pink cloth placed on an altar creates a gentle foundation for her energy.

A clay bowl or vase is often used to represent her, clay being a symbol of earth, resilience, and the power to shape life. Natural offerings such as coconut, coffee beans, tobacco, or leaves are placed with quiet intention, respecting the slow, grounding pace of her spirit.

Once your space feels settled, breathe deeply and allow your mind to soften into stillness.

Rituals to Honor Nana Buruku

Working with Nana Buruku is less about elaborate ceremony and more about entering her quiet, steady rhythm. Her rituals invite you to slow your breath, ground your spirit, and approach her with sincerity. Each act, such as lighting a candle, preparing an offering, and speaking a single prayer, becomes a way of aligning yourself with her ancient wisdom. The following rites offer gentle pathways into her presence, allowing her guidance to unfold in its own time.

Ancestral Healing with Moonlit Stillness

This ritual calls on Nana Buruku’s ancient wisdom to mend ancestral patterns and release heavy emotional inheritance. Gather the following ingredients before beginning.

• 14 Day Plain Purple Candle
• Frankincense & Myrrh Incense
• Bay Rum
• Coconut
• Seven Coffee Beans
• Clay Plate or Clay Bowl

Light the incense so the space shifts gently. Place the clay plate before you, setting the coconut and coffee beans with deliberate care. Pour Bay Rum into a clay bowl, holding it close as if offering your own heartbeat. Whisper:

Grandmother of beginnings, heal what has been carried too long.

As the candle burns, imagine her moonlit presence touching the threads of your lineage. When you feel her blessing settle, snuff the candle and leave the offerings overnight in gratitude.

A Ritual of Feminine Strength and Protection

This rite supports intuitive power, emotional grounding, and the quiet courage needed in times of transition. As you prepare, collect these sacred items.

• Pink 7-Day Candle
• White Sage or Frankincense
• Bay Leaves
• Small Clay Vase or Jar
• Tobacco

Let the incense purify the room. Place the clay vase before you and tuck in bay leaves representing challenges you seek strength to face. Add a pinch of tobacco as a gesture of respect. Whisper:

Nana Buruku, steady my spirit and protect my path.

Light the pink 7-day candle and feel her gentle circle of protection unfolding around you. When complete, snuff the candle and rest the vase upon your altar.

Everyday Ways to Walk in Her Wisdom

Nana Buruku teaches patience, grounding, and deep inner listening. Her lessons unfold in small, everyday moments: taking time to breathe before reacting, acknowledging ancestors with gratitude, sitting quietly near water, or tending to emotional needs with compassion.

To honor her daily is to move through life with steadiness, clarity, and respect for the slow, sacred rhythms that shape all creation.

Common Questions About Honoring Nana Buruku

Can men work with Nana Buruku?
Yes. She accepts anyone who approaches with honesty and humility, though she is especially protective of women.

Do I need initiation to honor her?
Simple devotions, offerings, and prayers can be done without initiation. An experienced practitioner should guide more formal ceremonies.

When is the best time to connect with her?
Full moons, dark moons, evenings, and moments of transition or emotional healing align naturally with her energy.

When is Nana Buruku's feast day?
Many communities celebrate July 26 as her feast day, a time to sit with her wisdom, offer prayers, and reconnect with the deep, ancient rhythm she carries.

What signs suggest she is calling me?
Dreams of elderly women, swamps, moonlight, numbers in sevens, or sudden emotional clarity often signal her presence.

Reflections on Walking with Nana Buruku

Nana Buruku reminds us that creation is not a sudden spark but a slow, sacred unfolding. Her wisdom reaches deep into the roots of our lives, offering protection, healing, and the quiet courage to begin again. When we walk in her rhythm - steady, patient, and attentive - we discover that transformation is always possible, especially in the stillness where she waits and watches over us.