Tag Archives | Santeria

The Spirits Meet the Saints in Cuba

One of the most fascinating “fusions” in the Caribbean is the fusion of West African religion and Catholicism, which is what you’ll find in Cuban, with Santeria. A small part of the Cuban population practices Santeria, which has its roots in Yoruban/Nigerian religion, and is often analogized to African/Haitian/American voudon (“voodoo”) — and, most intriguing to us in our mission to teach kids about music worldwide, uses African-inspired rhythms in so much of the music that forms the heart of its practices.  In the religion there are many spirits (orishas) with whom one must communicate in many ways, most famously through intricate rituals involving animal sacrifice. The culture of those who practice Santeria in Cuba started with Yoruba/Nigerian enslaved Africans several hundred years ago and morphed over generations into something uniquely Cuban.