Obaluaye is an orisa who is strongly associated with infectious disease and healings in the Yoruba religion. Obaluaye gives healings to the body, wealth and physical possessions.
In West Africa, he was strongly associated with epidemics of smallpox, leprosy, influenza, Ebola and HIV/AIDS.
Although strongly associated with illness and disease, Babalu-aye is also the spirit that cures these ailments. Both feared and loved, Babalu-aye is sometimes referred to as the “wrath of the supreme God”, because he punishes people for their transgressions.
People hold Babalu-aye in great respect and avoid calling his actual name, because they do not wish to invoke epidemics.