I. Origin and History
Santería is an Afro-Caribbean syncretic religion that originated in the Yoruba tribe of West Africa. The development of Santería is the result of the African Diaspora. The Yoruba tribe was brought to Cuba because of the slave trade in approximately the 16th century. Enslaved Africans in the Caribbean mixed their Yoruba beliefs with the Roman Catholic beliefs of the Spanish. Although on the surface they were forced by their masters to convert to Catholicism, many still practiced their native religion. In Cuba, the Yoruba religion mingled with other African religions and Roman Catholicism, forming the Lucumí religion. The Cuban Lucumís identified their deities with the saints of the Catholic Church. This began the …show more content…
He was the first to be created by Olodumare and existed before creation. Eleggua is responsible for communicating to and for the Orishas and Olodumare on behalf of those on earth. Eleggua is the first orisha received by a person in the Santería faith. Although Eleggua was the first orisha created, Obatala is the eldest. Obatala is the king of Santería in heaven and is father to many of the other orishas. His shrine is always placed higher than those of the other orishas. He is tasked with preserving peace among the orishas if any fights break out. Followers of Santería believe that he molded the bodies of humans before Olodumare breathed life into them. On the contrary, Oshun is the youngest of the Orishas. Oshun is the orisha of love and fertility. The only other female orisha that is considered one of the five primary orishas is Yemaya. It is believed that in addition to giving birth to the stars, sun, and moon, Yemaya also gave birth to many of the Orishas. Yemaya is closely tied to Oshun, who is believed to be her sister, and Chango who is most likely her son. Chango is the king of Santería on earth and the orisha of drumming, dancing, and male virility. It’s thought that he was once a living king on earth in the form of the fourth Alafin of Oyó in Yoruba. Chango represents typical toxic masculinity, which advocates for many female sexual partners and an abundance of alcohol. After leaving his wife Oshun and fathering children by raping another orisha, Chango realized that he needed to mature and take control of his life. It is because of this that Chango also represents redemption and
Santería is an Afro-Caribbean syncretic religion that originated in the Yoruba tribe of West Africa. The development of Santería is the result of the African Diaspora. The Yoruba tribe was brought to Cuba because of the slave trade in approximately the 16th century. Enslaved Africans in the Caribbean mixed their Yoruba beliefs with the Roman Catholic beliefs of the Spanish. Although on the surface they were forced by their masters to convert to Catholicism, many still practiced their native religion. In Cuba, the Yoruba religion mingled with other African religions and Roman Catholicism, forming the Lucumí religion. The Cuban Lucumís identified their deities with the saints of the Catholic Church. This began the …show more content…
He was the first to be created by Olodumare and existed before creation. Eleggua is responsible for communicating to and for the Orishas and Olodumare on behalf of those on earth. Eleggua is the first orisha received by a person in the Santería faith. Although Eleggua was the first orisha created, Obatala is the eldest. Obatala is the king of Santería in heaven and is father to many of the other orishas. His shrine is always placed higher than those of the other orishas. He is tasked with preserving peace among the orishas if any fights break out. Followers of Santería believe that he molded the bodies of humans before Olodumare breathed life into them. On the contrary, Oshun is the youngest of the Orishas. Oshun is the orisha of love and fertility. The only other female orisha that is considered one of the five primary orishas is Yemaya. It is believed that in addition to giving birth to the stars, sun, and moon, Yemaya also gave birth to many of the Orishas. Yemaya is closely tied to Oshun, who is believed to be her sister, and Chango who is most likely her son. Chango is the king of Santería on earth and the orisha of drumming, dancing, and male virility. It’s thought that he was once a living king on earth in the form of the fourth Alafin of Oyó in Yoruba. Chango represents typical toxic masculinity, which advocates for many female sexual partners and an abundance of alcohol. After leaving his wife Oshun and fathering children by raping another orisha, Chango realized that he needed to mature and take control of his life. It is because of this that Chango also represents redemption and