Santería: African Magic in Latin America

Description

Santería, like other ancient religions, is passed on through oral tradition from one generation to the next. It contains not only the history of a people determined to survive against overwhelming odds, but also their ritual behavior, forcibly inscribed in their consciousness through constant suffering and persecution. Growing academic interest in the social and psychological benefits to be gained through the practice of Santería has resulted in many research projects, mostly sponsored by the departments of psychiatry of many medical schools. Present research is mostly directed to better understanding the practice of Santeria’s effects on its believers and how it helps them cope with problems of adjustment. Increasing numbers of North Americans, both black and white are becoming adherents of Santeria and are also the subject of much academic interest and speculation. Santeria emerged as a struggle for cultural and ideological survival between the enslaved West African Yoruba people and the Roman Catholic Church in union with the Spanish Empire. Slaves transformed the enforced worship of the Catholic saints into the veiled worship of their spirit ancestors. For centuries, the resulting magico-religious system remained an enigma to the Christian world. Only recently have some of Santeria’s traditional practices come to light. It should be noted that Santeria is not confined to the Caribbean and to South America. As a result of the migration of large amounts of Caribbean people, it is now practiced in the great cities of the United States and Canada, inevitably winning converts among North Americans of varied ethnic backgrounds. These cross-currents of migration have kindled new interest in America’s African and Hispanic cultural heritage. Santeria: African Magic in Latin America Contents List of Plates Introduction 1 What Is Santeria? 2 The Legend 3 Rituals and Ceremonies of Santeria 4 Magical Practices 5 Natural Magic 6 The Seven African Powers 7 Black Magic—Brujeria 8 Other Aspects of Santería and African Magic Appendix Magic Spells of Santería Bibliography Glossary Plates following page 54: 1 Changó (god of fire), one of the Yoruba deities 2 A primitive statue of Yemaya 3 Changó double-edged sword 4 Representation of Yemaya as a mermaid 5 An iyalocha possessed by Chango, holding the doubleedged ax which is the symbol of the god. 6 The initiate (yaguó) with his head shaved and painted with vegetable dyes, awaits the ceremony of the asiento. 7 At a guemilere, one of the believers collapses on the floor, at the feet of a possessed omo-orisha. 8 The three drums used in the ritual ceremonies of Santeria (bata). 9 The yaguó during the ritual ceremony of the asiento. 10 (a) Altar of a santero 10 (b) the canastillero where Eleggua’s image is kept 10 (c) the cauldron of Oggún with his implements 11 Covered with the blood and feathers of the animal sacrifices, the yaguó collapses during the asiento, possessed by his god. 12 Priests of Obatalá, dressed in white, the color attributed to the god 13 Animal offerings 14 The babalawo divines the future with the sea shells (Table of Ifá) 15 A talisman of Osain 16 An image of Eleggua made with sandstone and sea shells 17 A novice of the goddess Oshun 18 An iyalocha personifying Yemaya-Olokun 19 Wearing his necklaces as a stethoscope, a santero in Brazil uses his healing powers to “cure” a believer 20 (a) Talisman of a mayombero 20 (b) magic nails used to protect the home 20 (c) vititi mensu, the magic mirror with which he can foretell the future 20 (d) masango or nkangue, a spell cast to dominate a person 21 Religious procession in Havana in honor of (a) Yemayá and (b) Oshún; (c) the batá or sacred drums of Santería