4.10.2008
Capturing the Living Gods
The Independent Weekly profiles a new book by Claire Garoutte and Anneke Wambaugh entitled "Crossing the Water: A Photographic Path to the Afro-Cuban Spirit World". The two photographer's "visual ethnography" follows Santiago Castaneda Vera, a veteran practitioner of several strains of African diasporic religion, through several rites and ceremonies.
Yemaya's throne.
"Castaneda's way of combining the traditions is idiosyncratic and based on his personal gifts: Born into a religious family in rural Santiago, he started communicating with the dead at age 8, leading to his initiation in Palo Monte. At age 22, he became a santero as well. A devotee of Yemaya, maternal Santeria goddess of fluid elements, Castaneda takes on an androgynous character in some of the photos, and in others dominates the flock as belligerent male spirit Sarabanda. Alongside spiritual practice, he has worked various day jobs throughout his life, and since retiring at age 60, lives solely from his religious activities."
Unlike similar books of this nature, "Crossing the Water" is an insiders view of these religious traditions. Both authors are "children" (initiates) into Castaneda's religious house, and actively participated in the set-up and performance of ritual. While this approach allows for a deeper understanding of the context and meaning of the rites and rituals performed, some, like Yoruba Orisa singer Amma McKen, wonder if this "insider" tone may hinder the work from finding an audience beyond fellow practitioners.
"As to whether this level of access by those interested in documenting the religion is unusual, Amma McKen, an oricha priestess of 28 years residing in Brooklyn, says, "It has been done, but it's not done frequently. I think [the book] will be really well received by practitioners if nothing else." McKen, like Castaneda, is a devotee of Yemaya."
But while the "level of access" might turn off some curious readers, the mixture of academic rigor, creativity, and real devotion to the subject matter could make "Crossing the Water" a must-have for anyone interested in the practice of African diasporic religion in Cuba (and elsewhere). For more photos from the book, check out this visual tour.
Labels: African diasporic religion, books, Cuba, Paganism, Santeria, Vodou, Voodoo
1.22.2008
Yoruba Sacred Texts
In a recent post I mentioned that two copies of a rare book about the Yoruba religion were donated to Florida International University.
"The text, The Book of Diagnosis in Ifa Divination, was drawn from the religion's oral tradition and first published in the 1940s. The original text and its copies were kept from the public until the present day ... The text is a compilation of Yoruba and Afro-Cuban history, culture and philosophy. It was written in Yoruba and Spanish."
Now a follow-up article about the donation, from student paper The Beacon, goes into greater depth about the history and importance of this text.
"After years of criticism for not having a written religious canon, leaders of the Yoruba religion have decided to reveal two original texts that were kept for decades in the hands of privileged priests. The texts were showcased at a meeting for the inauguration of Africana Knowledge Working Group of South Florida held at Biscayne Bay Campus on Jan. 18. This event marked the first time any sacred text of Santeria, the syncretic Yoruba religion, has ever been exposed to the public. The Book of Diagnosis in Ifa Divination was written in 1940 by a group of priests and recopied by the same authors within the next ten years."
For anyone interested in minority faiths, this is a major development. I only wish this had been covered by a major new outlet who had the time and money to really dig into this story. For instance, what is the general consensus of this text among different manifestations of Yoruba-derived religion? Was there any controversy in making this text known? Do Santeria practitioners feel differently about the book than Vodou priests in America? Is it truly a "sacred" text in the same manner as the Bible? There are so many questions that have yet to be explored here, but I'm almost certain of one group's reaction, academics and scholars are no doubt excited about these texts. In a couple years we will most likely see papers that explore this new find, and perhaps they will answer the questions that the journalists didn't get around to.
Speaking of Yoruba and Santeria, babalawo Antonio Castaneda, the first priest of the Santeria religion to be elected to Cuba's parliament, predicted the continued rule of Fidel Castro despite concerns about his health after a recent surgery.
"'Olodumare says he is the one that should be there and so he is untouchable,' said Antonio Castaneda, a babalawo (priest) in the religion slaves brought to colonial Cuba from Nigeria. Hurricanes may batter Cuba this year, but Castro's health will not break, according to the orishas (deities), he said ... Santeria followers have believed their gods were on Fidel Castro's side ever since a white dove landed on his shoulder during a victory speech in Havana after his 1959 revolution."
Of course Castaneda belongs to the Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba, an organization friendly to the Cuban government, so he might be seeing what he wants to see, instead of what will be. Only time will tell for sure (you can always look at the Ifa predictions for 2008, and make your own judgments).
Labels: Africa, Cuba, Florida International University, predictions, Santeria, Vodou, Yoruba
1.03.2008
What is Coming in 2008?
A traditional pastime in many cultures is to perform divinations and make predictions for the coming year. One of the more famous groups releasing predictions for 2008 is a consortium of (predominately Cuban) Santeria priests.
"Priests offering New Year's prophecies from Cuba's Afro-Cuban religion on Wednesday gave few hints on the future of convalescing leader Fidel Castro and instead warned about dangerous climate change and epidemics ... This year's batch came after a meeting of more than 1,000 priests, including babalawos visiting from Venezuela, Peru and Italy."
While most journalists wanted to hear about Castro, the babalawos seem far more concerned about environmental issues, war, and global warming.
"More violent robberies and wars are on the way in 2008, along with dangerous forest fires, and this may be the year global warming unleashes worldwide catastrophe. But with hard work and moral discipline, the planet's people just might turn things around ... In their forecast released Wednesday, the priests warned "Cuba and the world" of heightened danger from forest fires, "violent robberies" and "serious climate irregularities." But there is still time to seize the moral high ground, reduce violence and slow climate change, Priest Lazaro Cuesta told a news conference. "There is still hope because there are still possibilities," he said."
Santeria priests aren't the only ones making press for 2008 predictions, some local papers are hitting up psychics for clues to what the future holds.
"But ask local psychics Pernel Dove and Flash Silvermoon what the capricious future holds, and, without a heartbeat of hesitation, they'll answer ... According to Dove's annual predictions, Hilary Clinton will "without a doubt" be elected president ... According to Silvermoon, Osama bin Laden will finally be found and the Bush family will get caught in a "communication oriented" scandal during the first week of March ... Dove predicted at least two hurricane landfalls in the United States."
But you should be careful with predictions, because they can always come back to haunt you.
"In 2001, Nikki had forecast that two planes would crash into the World Trade Center. She had also predicted Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwins demise. She, however, wrongly predicted in 2007 that an explosion would rock Rockefeller Center, Fidel Castro would die, and the United States would invade Cuba. Her predictions that a terrorist would attack Air Force One, and that Leonardo DiCaprio would be kidnapped, also did not come true."
Have you done divinations for the new year? What predictions are you willing to make for 2008? Leave a comment with your hunches, guesses, and certainties, but be careful, you may see your predictions (wrong or right) revisited come 2009!
ADDENDUM: Full text of the Ifa Reading for 2008.
Labels: 2008, Cuba, Paganism, predictions, psychics, Santeria
5.07.2007
Santeria's Popularity
Catherine Bremer, writing for Reuters, takes a look at the booming popularity of Santeria for tourists in Cuba.
"A babalawo, or priest, of Cuba's ritual-filled Santeria religion, Castellano wears a gold chain and has a TV and a telephone that stand out from the animal skulls, pigeon blood, melted candle wax and feathers that litter his dingy home. Such modern accoutrements are testament to a flow of tourists that has made Santeria a lucrative business for some, bringing in foreign currency that makes the difference between a frugal lifestyle or relative wealth in communist-run Cuba."
The vast majority of Cubans are Santeria followers, and the country has always been a place for tourists to seek advice or even initiation from a Santera or Babalawo. Its become so popular, and such a steady form of income in the poverty-stricken country that some worry the religion will "sell out" or be overrun by con-artists.
"...white-clad taxpaying babalawos are on a level with Cubans with permits to run book stores or drive taxis. And the ones working on the quiet make more than they would as cigar hawkers or tour guides. Many are among the few Cubans with access to a phone or e-mail. Still, like anything in life, when Santeria goes too commercial, it loses much of its magic. 'Santeria is not a commercial thing. Everyone has to pay to be cleansed, but priests shouldn't pester people for business,' said Cuban anthropologist and Santeria expert Natalia Bolivar. 'Foreigners have always come to see babalawos, because it's fashionable or someone told them about it. There are unscrupulous people who take advantage of that. But truly religious people never would.'"
A political subtext here that goes unspoken is what will happen in post-Castro Cuba. Will America intervene at Castro's death to forcefully democratize the country? If so, what kind of future can the people of Cuba expect? Will we see an even bigger influx of Cuban immigrants (and thus, a bigger influx of Santeria practitioners) in the turmoil that would follow? As Santeria becomes an every-growing religious movement in America, it should be interesting to see how we react. Is mainstream America ready for Lukumi/Santeria houses side by side with Muslim mosques and Christian Churches?
If the population of American adherents reaches 3 or 4 million (which isn't that improbable) it could very well happen.
