Aja

Ajá (meaning wild wind) is the Orisha who represents the soul of the woodland and the creatures inside it. She is mainly considered a goddess of the forest, but is also a goddess of animals.She holds the secrets of botany and can be also looked to for help with trading and economic prosperity. In her forests she would find plants with medicinal properties, mixing leaves, roots and other plant parts together to find cures for the sick. Ajá shared much of her knowledge with humans, waiting for someone to come and find her to share it with.

It is believed that if someone is carried away by Ajá and then returns, they become a powerful shaman. The journey would have a duration of between 7 days to 3 months, and the person is thought to have gone to the land of the dead or heaven. Ajá is considered one of the rarest Earth Gods because she reveals herself to humans.

In the works of Carol Muthiga-Oyekunle, women are portrayed as symbolic warriors, radiating strength and joy. Combining digital and mixed-media collage methods with photography and vivid graphical elements, the artist skillfully interweaves techniques to create bold and brilliant portraits of her female subjects. The resulting art depicts themes from the past, present and imagined futures, holding up a mirror to a patriarchal society.