Santería, << san teh REE uh, >> is a set of religious practices that began among slaves in Cuba during the 1800’s and spread to Brazil, Haiti, Trinidad, and elsewhere. Most of these slaves were brought to Cuba from western Africa and forced to work on sugar plantations. Many of them came from the Yoruba Kingdom, in what are now Nigeria and Benin. They relied on their native traditions to help them survive the brutal conditions on the plantations. The slaves also adopted ideas and practices from other religions, including Roman Catholicism, which Spaniards had introduced into Cuba. Santería resulted from this mix of other religions with Yoruba traditions. It has spread around the world, and its followers continue to borrow elements of other religions they encounter.
Santería is based on Yoruba customs of interacting with deities (gods and goddesses) called orishas. The orishas act as representatives of Olodumare, the Supreme Being who is far removed from the human world. Each orisha has special characteristics and responsibilities and is identified with certain parts of life and nature. Among the most important orishas are Eleggua, the childlike guardian of roads and travel; Ogun, the fierce but dependable god associated with iron, war, and work; Shango, the attractive ruler of fire, lightning, thunder, and dance; the motherly Yemaja, who oversees fertility, lakes, and seas; and Yemaja’s beautiful sister Oshun, who protects rivers, streams, and wealth.
Most Santería practices involve efforts to communicate with the orishas. A person may interact with the gods as an individual or as a member of a group. In every case, a priest or priestess helps people ask for assistance from one or more orishas. Some ceremonies include animal sacrifices. The orishas are believed to visit the human world regularly during group drumming sessions called bembés, which include singing and dancing. During a bembé, an orisha may talk to a group by taking over the body of one person and using it to speak to the others.
The Spanish word santería refers to dedication to saints. Observers applied this name to the traditions of the Yoruba in Cuba because followers frequently associate the orishas with particular Roman Catholic saints. For example, Eleggua often is identified with Saint Anthony of Padua, who is believed to watch over travelers.
Many people consider Santería an improper title for the religion it describes, because the name was applied by outsiders who did not practice or understand the religion. Instead, many prefer to call the religion La Regla de Ocha (The Rule of the Orishas).
See also Candomblé ; Syncretism ; Yoruba .
