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Santería: Afro-Caribbean Religion June 9, 2010

Santeria God: Oshun

Often a very misunderstood religion, Santeria originated from West Africa, (now Nigeria and Benin) and is practiced by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. It was introduced in the Caribbean and South America when a significant number of en-slaved Africans from Yoruba land, West Africa, were brought to these areas to work on plantations. Deriving from a Spanish term which means “worship of saints”, Santeria is also called Regla de Ocha or La Regla Lucimi. It is a sycretic religion and has strong features of Catholicism, the prevailing religion of the European enslavers.

Santeria God: Shango

Practitioners of the religion or Santeros maintained their beliefs and practised their faith by venerating their gods while misleading their Spanish enslavers to think that they were worshipping the Catholic saints. Ranking Santero priests are termed Babalawo (male) or Iyalocha (female). Santeros believe that deities their gods (Olodumare) actually descend to earth to help and console their followers..

According the Yorubas, the universe is divided into two forces: One is dominated by the Orishas and good and the other is dominated by “ajogun” and evil forces. The use of birds and animals as sacrificial offerings plays a very significant role in the Santeria rituals, where each of the orishas (spirits) is fed with their favourite food or sacrifice. Songs and hymns are also used in Orisha worship. Dancing also plays an important part in the worship session. Musical instruments used in worship included the drum and the chac-chac.

References

Warner-Lewis, Maureen. Trinidad Yoruba: From Mother Tongue to Memory. Kingston, Jamaica: The Press University of the West Indies, 1997.
Murphy, Joseph M. Santeria: An African Religion in America. Boston: Beacon Press, 1988.
Vega, Marta Mooreno. The Altar of my Soul the Living Traditions of Santeria. New York: One World 2001.
Brown, David H. Santeria Enthroned: Art, Ritual and Innovation in Afro-Cuban Religion. London: The University of Chicago Press 2003

Click here to visit the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica's website For further information please contact:
African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank
12 Ocean Boulevard, Kingston
Tel: 922-4793/7415
Fax: 924-9361
Email: acij@anngel.com