saharra K. sandhu Author
Romance with a Sassy Twist!
Welcome to the Eye of Saharra
When I decided to write, I chose the genre of science fiction because it allowed me to weave into my stories African folklore and beliefs. Over the years, I have collected fantastic tales, rich in symbolism and lore. They come from all over Africa and Asia, no corner or culture was overlooked. I keep my eye on all types of stories. This page holds some examples of the wonderful histories I have found to date.
Yemalla
Yemalla in Yoruba mythology is the mother goddess. She is mother to all African spirits or deities. Some beliefs say that, in the beginning, Yemalla was always there and that all life came from her including the spirits. Her name comes from the Yoruba words "Yeye omo eja" and means "Mother whose children are like fish". This represents her reign over every living thing.
Yemalla is part of a long oral tradition and is referred to by many names; Lemanja, Yemana, LaSiren (The Mermaid), Our lady of Regla, Our Lady, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris). Stella Maris is and ancient title for the Virgin Mary.
The Yoruba slaves brought the belief in Yemalla and other forces of nature to the Americas. She is venerated in West, Central and Southern Africa and also in the African diaspora of the Americas. She is the ocean and protector of children.
THE BENNU
The story of the Bennu or Phoenix is an ancient one. It spans a multitude of cultures and was given many names. The Persians recounted tales of the bird Simorg, in India it was known as the Semendar, in China the Fenghuang. I chose the Bennu for the Gaiian series because of its African origins but refer to it in the books as the Phoenix because this name is more familiar to the western audience. The Bennu was a bird whose feathers were golden-red hue. It lived for 500 years and roamed the lands between Arabia and North Africa. It fed on oils of balsam and frankincense. At its death, a newborn Phoenix rose fully-grown from the ashes. It then takes the ashes across the sky to the sun's great city.
AIDO HWEDO
The Aido Hwedo or Rainbow Serpent (I call it the dragon) was the first creature to be created in the world in the Dahomey culture. The Dahomey culture was a kingdom in West Africa in the area now known as Benin. It lasted from 1600 to 1900. It was a regional power for most of the 18th and 19th century and was a major location of the Atlantic slave trade. Approximately 20% of the slave trade originated from its shores. It was also know for its corps of female soldiers called the Dahomey Amazons. The priest class were made primarily of Women.
The Aido Hwedo was created to support the earth to keep it from plummeting through the cosmos and disappear. Its coiled body was vast and could hold the earth. This generated so much heat that it caused the Aido Hwedo great pain. The waters of the oceans were created to cool her body. The oceans sometimes failed to keep her cool enough, so she writhes in discomfort, thus shaking the world and creating earthquakes. The Aido Hwedo sustains herself with iron found in the earth's core. When this is all gone, she will begin to devour her own tail until nothing remains. When she is gone, the world will no longer have her coils to maintain its weight and it too will disappear from the cosmos.