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Speaking with the Orishas: Divination and Propitiation in the Lukumi Religion

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Date Issued:
2014
Abstract/Description:
The Lucum(&)#237; religion was born in Cuba from African and European religious systems. The enslaved Yoruba were brought to the New World through the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. They were taken from their homes, family, language, and religion and brought to countries like Cuba to provide free labor to growing agricultural markets that benefited European colonizers of the Americas. The Yoruba would hold on to their religion, but in order to keep it alive, they would have to make it into a new religion. This new religion would become the religion known as Lucum(&)#237;. In Cuba, Lucum(&)#237; practitioners would hide their religion beneath the fa(&)#231;ade of Catholicism. The orishas were associated with Catholic saints with similar attributes. The orisha Chang(&)#243;, who governs war and presides over lightning, became associated with Saint Barbara who is the patron saint of artillerymen and is linked to lightning. The Yoruba could be seen praying to a saint but were actually praying to an orisha. This practice became ingrained as a part of Lucum(&)#237; tradition. Divination and propitiation are at the center of the Lucum(&)#237; religion. Divination determines the course of a practitioner's life and can reveal whether practitioners are in a good or bad position in their lives. Propitiation will ensure that good fortune will remain or that bad omens will disappear.
Title: Speaking with the Orishas: Divination and Propitiation in the Lukumi Religion.
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Name(s): Marrero, Kristi, Author
Howard, Rosalyn, Committee Chair
Matejowsky, Ty, Committee Member
Reyes-Foster, Beatriz, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2014
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: The Lucum(&)#237; religion was born in Cuba from African and European religious systems. The enslaved Yoruba were brought to the New World through the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. They were taken from their homes, family, language, and religion and brought to countries like Cuba to provide free labor to growing agricultural markets that benefited European colonizers of the Americas. The Yoruba would hold on to their religion, but in order to keep it alive, they would have to make it into a new religion. This new religion would become the religion known as Lucum(&)#237;. In Cuba, Lucum(&)#237; practitioners would hide their religion beneath the fa(&)#231;ade of Catholicism. The orishas were associated with Catholic saints with similar attributes. The orisha Chang(&)#243;, who governs war and presides over lightning, became associated with Saint Barbara who is the patron saint of artillerymen and is linked to lightning. The Yoruba could be seen praying to a saint but were actually praying to an orisha. This practice became ingrained as a part of Lucum(&)#237; tradition. Divination and propitiation are at the center of the Lucum(&)#237; religion. Divination determines the course of a practitioner's life and can reveal whether practitioners are in a good or bad position in their lives. Propitiation will ensure that good fortune will remain or that bad omens will disappear.
Identifier: CFE0005526 (IID), ucf:50325 (fedora)
Note(s): 2014-12-01
M.A.
Sciences, Anthropology
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Santeria -- Lukumi -- African Diaspora -- Cuba -- Divination
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005526
Restrictions on Access: public 2014-12-15
Host Institution: UCF

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