The several African-based
religions that have developed in Cuba are called syncretic because they
combine elements from several different cultures. They include cultural
elements from Yourba, baKongo, Fon and other African civilizations as
well as colonial Spanish secular and Catholic elements. These religions
include Santeria, Palo Monte, Voodoo and Espiritismo. Santeria and Palo
Monte are based on the beliefs and practices brought to Cuba by African
slaves. Voodoo originated in Haiti. It is based on similar beliefs and
practices but developed in a French rather than Spanish environment. It
was later brought to Cuba by Haitian workers and is still primarily
practiced in those communities. Espiritismo is a combination of African
ancestor worship and 18th century French Spiritism.
You can follow the icons below to
learn more about each of these religions:
Santeria
Espiritismo
Palo Monte (under development)
Voudoun
(under development)
Eleggua Tour 1995
During the summer of 1995 I was
part of a delegation of scholars who visited various religous houses
throughout eastern Cuba. I learned to love Cuban rum, Cuban cigars,
Cuban coffee and the Cuban people. I have two Cuban "children" in
Santiago as well as several new friends: Cuban, Canadian and American.
I've brought back over 10 hours of video tape of demonstrations and
rituals, over 9 hours of audio tape interviews with practitioners, over
200 pictures, and innumerable memories of the faces of the people who
opened up their hearts, their homes and their religious experience to
us. I'll never forget setting on the porch of the voodoo mambo, holding
the sacred doll that lives with her in her bedroom while she prepared
coffee from her own trees, the innumerable cakes loving prepared and
respectfully consumed, the West Indian May Pole dance with its African
interpretation of a traditional English ritual, the honor of being
allowed into sacred spaces in gardens, back rooms and buildings
consecrated especially to the Orishes or the Lwas or the spirits. I can
still feel the chill of the spirits called into an open air Espiritismo
building, the penetrating gaze of a babalawo near Las Tunas, the power
of the cleansing ritual performed for me in Santiago. I had not yet
been home 24 hours before I was trying to figure out how to get
packages to the many friends I left behind and when and how I could go
back!
There is a long tradition of
pilgrimage in African and European history. In the spirit of such
pilgrimages I have put together a group of sites in these traditions
that you can visit. Each links to a picture of a religious altar or
display
Related Sites
Religion Sites
African Sites
Other Sites
Mary Ann Clark
Comments to: drmaryann49 at mac dot com
Revised: February 2007