ONIRA-OYA is an African Goddess. Warrior by choice, she is out and about to defend what is hers. Fighting is her pleasure. She knows how to conquer either in the heat of war or love. She is a very complex goddess who somehow interacts with all elements of nature. OYA is basically connected to the waters. She is the queen of the Niger river (Africa) and also the nymph of fresh waters.

Her name was chosen to represent the warrior strength of the Brazilian woman willing to fight for what is hers: Her land, family, roots and traditions regardless of the hurdles imposed by her social condition. By and large, they struggle for the survival of their homes. As weapons, they use the popular wisdom inherited from forefathers and the resources provided by nature. Thus, gathered in “cells”, they produce delicate craftwork of high beauty and originality.

ONIRA–OYA BRASIL’s main goal is to encourage these women by disseminating and commercializing their craftworks in the international market, along with the maintenance of the tenets of sustainability: Social, Economical and Environmental Responsibility. Through capacity and awareness building, it aims to bring together the popular tradition with the sustainable use of the Brazilian cultural assets awakening the we-are-all-part-of-nature consciousness and that we are responsible for everything surrounding us