I find it interesting how even throughout the transatlantic slave trade, water deities such as Yemoja/Yemaja were still worshiped throughout rough historical times for Yourban people. It would make sense how throughout slavery like this that occurred throughout different coasts that a figure closer to the water would seem fitting to pray and worship to during a time like this. But not only that, the trade and spread of this water diety was shared with other places like, “[…] Brazil, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the United States” (Pg. 166), which I could only assume is how other forms of Yemoja developed association with similar beings like Mami Wata.
Reason being why this stood out was considering how consistently throughout history there are different takes on sub-human creatures, Mermaids, or water dieties based on the social and religious need of society during that time. For example, the Christianity’s need to portray mermaids in a hyper sexual way to warn off men from giving into lust and desire, or in this case, slaves search for a sense of comfort from Yemoja during there transatlantic moves.
Hello Leon,
It seems like the water deities that are apparent in various nations (such as the ones you mentioned) were almost bound to be praised given the atrocities that occurred during the slave trade; this sense of nurture and protection from an elemental spirit when being transported via ship on the seas was needed in a time of confusion and hostility. Your comment on how different cultures have their own interpretation of merfolk with some being protective spirits and others being “used” to portray cautionary tales (Christianity as you mentioned) is something that I spoke about in my discovery, specifically in regards to the European influence in the Americas.