| Santeria was introduced in Cuba along with the huge | | | | "kimbisa" or "embisa" (it gathers the ones that make |
| migrations of African slaves, especially the ones of | | | | the beverages devoted to healing sicknesses); the |
| congo, carabalí, and yoruba origin, whose beliefs | | | | "kinfuiti" (whose job is to cry after the Dead) and the |
| mixed with the mandatory Christian religions of the | | | | "briyumba" (which covers everything). |
| Spanish Crown. Today, this syncretism is part of the | | | | Santeria includes different levels of initiation and priestly |
| Cuban people's cultural heritage and it's present in | | | | categories. Among the best known are the |
| different literary and aesthetic ways of expression. It | | | | "babaloshas" and "iyaloshas", known in the island as |
| appears to be the Cuban result of the integration and | | | | "santeros" and "santeras" An important place is |
| cultural continuity of ethnic and religious elements of | | | | occupied by the "awuses" or "babalawos" (a Yoruba |
| Spanish and African participants. Worships to Orishas | | | | word etymologically coming from "baba" «father» |
| or other African deities, mainly Yoruba, are still alive | | | | and "awó" «secret»). In Cuba, there are other |
| under worships to images of catholic saints. Along with | | | | intermediate diverse categories which require an |
| Santeria, other elements were introduced such as the | | | | uncalculated knowledge and an artistic talent for their |
| myths, legends, traditions, chants, dances, recipes, and | | | | cult, such as the "alú batá" or "tamboleros", |
| rituals that make up the Cuban culture nowadays. | | | | responsible for interpreting the Orishas' ritual music. |
| | | | | They use three drums for the ceremony: the "iyá" |
| Apart from the well-known cult to the Orishas or | | | | (the biggest), the "itótele", and the third one is the |
| "Regla de Ocha", Africans brought to Cuba a new | | | | "okónkolo" (the smallest). |
| way of religious organization: the Secret Abakúa | | | | The "ilé-ocha" of santería is the so called "toque |
| Society (developed near the harbor and the piers, | | | | de santo", in whose ceremonies there could be |
| particularly in Havana, Matanzas and Cárdenas, in the | | | | different functions: that of initiation, that of presentation |
| Northern coast of Western Cuba, integrated only by | | | | of the drum, that of birthday, that of funeral or the day |
| men), the only one of its type in America, representing | | | | of the catholic saint, as well as the parties for "having |
| a common phenomenon in Western Africa. Another | | | | fun" with the saints which are the "toques de güiro" |
| one was "Las firmas de los santos en el Palo Monte" | | | | (abwe or cekeré). No "santero" (a person practicing |
| or "Regla Conga", a religious cult of Bantú origin | | | | santeria) can be initiated if not baptized by the Catholic |
| practiced in the Island. | | | | Church, although during his life as "santero" he'll respond |
| Among the Abakúas, there are a series of organizing | | | | to the "Regla de Ocha". Every September 8, in the |
| characteristics and they consist of small groups called | | | | ultramarine town of Regla, in Havana, ceremonies are |
| "juegos" o "potencias". Solidarity is requested among | | | | held so that the sons of Yemeyá pay tribute to the |
| the players (ekobios) of each "juego", as well as the | | | | Virgin of Regla. Other celebrations in Cuba are that of |
| rivalry among different "juegos" which have developed | | | | Saint Barbara, on December 4, and that of |
| bloody events. To the Abakúa or "Ñáñigo", the | | | | Babalú-ayé (Saint Lázaro), on December 17. |
| sense of honor manifests itself as manliness. It's a | | | | Although private, the majority of the ceremonies can |
| society of mutual help, first developed among the | | | | be visited by anyone, so if you are strolling around |
| ancient "cabildos de nación"(societies that kept alive | | | | Havana, Matanzas, or Santiago de Cuba in the |
| African languages, traditions and beliefs), among the | | | | afternoon and you hear the drums playing, follow the |
| slaves, then black Creoles were involved , and later | | | | sound and drop by the "solar" (tenement building) |
| the mulattos, whites, and even Chinese. | | | | because, for sure, you'll find someone "haciéndose |
| Palo Monte covers numerous liturgies: "mayombe" (it | | | | santo" (becoming a satero). |
| gathers the ones who work with the Dead); the | | | | |