Santeria’s origins can be traced back to West Africa, specifically Nigeria and Benin. It came into existence as a new religion in Cuba from the 16th to the 19th centuries. It is a syncretic religion based on the religious practices of the Yoruba people, who were brought to Cuba as slaves from the Congo Basin and West Africa. Santeria was developed and practiced in secret after the Spanish colonial government-imposed Catholicism as the only permitted religion on the island (Glaude 2018). The religion incorporated both African pagan gods and Catholic saints. Even after slavery was abolished, Afro-Cuban religious practices were prohibited. Despite strict religious restrictions, Santeria was practiced on the island in the years following the 1959 revolution (United States Commision 2021). The government imposed these restrictions in the hope of limiting the growth of all religions, but it specifically targeted Catholicism and Santeria due to their important roles in Cuban identity.
Santeria is steeped in Catholicism, with some beliefs requiring full-fledged Catholics to be baptized in order to fully participate in the religion. Santeria practitioners, also known as paleros, made physical sacrifices to their deities or saints known as orishas. Orishas, as Catholics, frequently have a counterpart in their own religion. Santeria’s patron goddess, Ochun, for example, is merged with Cuba’s patron saint, the Virgin of Charity of the Copper. Despite the fact that many practiced Santeria, the Catholic Church does not recognize it as a religion. Santeria, a secret syncretic faith, had no public places of worship and instead operated in people’s homes with altars and other unofficially organized societies.
Afro-Cuban religion is hidden behind the facade of Catholicism; however, they combine pre-Columbian deities with Christian saints. The parish is aware that the actual Virgin of Charity is not Obatalá, but they have discovered a number of similarities between the two, allowing them to secretly worship Obatalá. Within the house, there is an altar with a statue of a Catholic saint where African-related Orichas or charms are kept, and another altar where Santero-style icons of saints can be found. Despite the fact that practitioners rarely have difficulty distinguishing between the two, the two have each other. The essence of a well-known mythological Oricha is complex, with mystic qualities, and cannot be adequately represented by a single image or form. All of these things exist as subtle primordial energy that exists in the universe and within each of us.
Santeria is a religion that is based on the advice of orishas. Orishas are spirit guides who help their followers when they are in need. Everyone has their own orisha or group of orishas. Using the Orishas can help you gain a better understanding of yourself, your community, and your life’s purpose. The various spirits known as orishas serve as intermediaries between people and the Supreme Being, granting their followers’ true spiritual peace. Devotees of Santeria learn how to hear the voices of the various Orishas who call to them, especially when they are in trouble and how to defend themselves from harm. Aside from the demanding and time-consuming rituals, Santeria provides an enriching history and a welcoming community, transforming it into an everyday lifestyle. It is also a means of livelihood rather than a belief structure with little bearing on the lives of its followers.
As there is no single governing body responsible for the tradition, approximately 70% of Cubans practice Santeria, a religion based on African beliefs. Santeria, a predominantly African religion, influences many aspects of Cuban culture, including art, music, food, and dance. For many, the term “cult” has been applied to Santeria and this cultic behavior, which frequently incorporates mysterious and downright bizarre activities such as animal sacrifices and magic casting. Santeria combines elements of magic and mysticism with Christianity and Judaism, but both of these religions have their own mystical aspects.
In many ways, Santeria’s orishas are similar to Christian saints, but in practice, they are much more dynamic than saints are commonly depicted in Christianity. Each member of the Santeria faith is dedicated to one geisha. The color worn on a particular day of the year represents the event or philosophy being commemorated. The majority of orisha characters are known through folk dances, films, and art (Montgomery 2018). Chango is depicted in red, and white, Elegguá, is depicted in red and black, Yemayá, the sea goddess is depicted in blue and white, and Oshun, the youngest Orisha is depicted in eye-catching yellow. Santeria incorporates concepts from Christianity, Yoruba traditions, and a variety of other African traditions. Oshun is another face of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre due to the existing links with Santa Barbara.
The orishas too have flaws, as Eleggua can be mischievous at times, and Changó can be arrogant and tempted by vanity. Each orisha has a distinct personality and backstory, which are detailed in various traditional stories. Their followers’ attachment to them is strengthened by sharing food, seeking advice from them, and remembering the days of the week and years of their lives. Many Cubans considered Fidel Castro’s burial on December 4, to be special, if not auspicious, because it occurred on the feast day of Saint Barbara (Frank Jack Daniel. 2016). Fidel, a former member of the Cuban clergy, disagreed that religion was an important part of his and his country’s lives. Many saw him as favored by the orishas when a dove, a sacred symbol of Oshun, perched on his shoulder as he delivered a speech following the Revolution in 1959 (United States Commision 2021). Though Fidel Castro suppressed Santeria, it is expected to emerge as an important part of the island’s cultural identity in the coming years.
Reference List
Daniel, Frank Jack. 2016 “Fidel Castro Funeral Subdues Cuba’s Popular Santeria Festival.” Reuters.
Glaude, Ludmille. 2018 “Political Implications on Santería.”Undergraduate Research 43.
Montgomery, Nathan. 2018. “Santería in a Globalized World: A Study in Afro-Cuban Folkloric Music.”
United States Commision. 2021. “Internation Religious Freedom.”Santeria in Cuba.