YeYe Luisah Teish 

YORUBA PRIESTESS & STORYTELLER

YeYe Luisah Teish is a cultural treasure—an internationally celebrated teacher, author, ceremonialist, and master storyteller who has dedicated her life to uplifting the spiritual traditions of the African diaspora and fostering global collaboration across Indigenous traditions. An elder (Iyanifa) in the Ifa/Orisha tradition, she is the founder and spiritual leader of Ile Orunmila Oshun (House of Destiny and Love) and serves as a respected member of the Mother Earth Delegation of United Indigenous Nations. 

Her writings have influenced generations: her groundbreaking book Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals is considered a classic in African spiritual traditions, while her most recent work, A Calabash of Cowries: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times, has become a best-selling collection of Orisha tales and teachings of the natural world. She has authored five books, contributed to 45 anthologies, and published poetry and prayers in seven Indigenous languages. 

Teish has long been committed to intercultural collaboration, working with Indigenous Elders of the Diné, Toltec, and Potawatomi peoples, as well as the Atawaha Māori clan of New Zealand. She frequently partners with Hawaiian Kauna Leilani Birely, with whom she co-authored On Holy Ground: Commitment and Devotion to Sacred Land. Her lifetime of service has been recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Black Women’s Congress (2023) and the Demeter Award from the Association for the Study of Women in Mythology (2025) for her visionary scholarship and contributions to feminist art, culture, and spiritual practice. 

A sought-after ritual leader and keynote speaker, YeYe Teish has graced conferences including Bioneers, the Institute of Noetic Sciences, the Association for Transpersonal Psychology, and the National Black Women’s Health Project. She has also served as a spiritual and ritual performance advisor for Jubilee Justice for Reparations. Through her storytelling, ceremonies, and teaching, she continues to inspire people everywhere to reclaim ancestral wisdom, honor the sacred, and walk with devotion to Mother Earth. 

She is presently raising funds to create the Jambalaya Center for Ancient Mysteries and Sacred Arts in Guerneville, CA — an offering to preserve and share sacred traditions with future generations. Donations are tax deductible.