US Yoruba practioners invited to Cuba

Cubans invite US-based Yoruba practioners for ongoing visits by Chester King

The president of the Havana based Yoruba Cultural Association, Antonio Castaneda Marquez, invited US-based Santeros, or practitioners of the Yoruba religion, to visit Cuba and embark on a series of interchanges with their Cuban counterparts. On the US side, the president of the Miami-based Chango Eyife Lucumi Association, Jose Montoya, is organizing the event and welcomes the invitation from the Yoruba Institute.

Montoya already has the required US Treasury Department license for the first visit, a 10 day affair starting July 28th. A list of 27 participating Santeros is in his hands and he hopes others will join their group (see phone number below). The license was obtained from Treasury under the category of religion, one of a number of categories such as academic/professional research and the transmission of informational material, categories which are allowed to travel to Cuba under current law. Montoya expects some 150 Santeros to join him in visits this September.

The Havana-based Yoruba Cultural Association has existed for 10 years and was officially registered in 1991 as a non-profit organization. Since 1992, they have been holding international conferences on Yoruba culture. The Association includes both believers and others who love Yoruba culture. They have been planning this visit from the US for 3 years.

US based Santeros will pay the costs of the trip and will carry with them a donation of medical supplies. Observers say that this is the first time such an organized official visit is taking place, though there have been numerous visits of individuals from the US seeking out religious learning and ceremonies, and even some small groups through Rescato Afrocubano, another Miami based group.

This visit comes after several years of a tremendous resurgence in Cuba of African religions in general, which include Yoruba but also Congo, Arara (Dahomey - Vodun), and Abakwa (Niger delta - Efik/Efo), all of whose traditions have been carried on and are very much alive in a population over 60% of whom have African ancestors.

According to the Cuban letter of invitation, the first visit, slated for July 28th, will start with a reception at the Havana airport, to be followed by visits to institutions, to special sites, and to a toque or religious celebration with the famed Yoruba bata drums dedicated to one of the Orisha.

For information on participating in the visits, call the Chango Eyife Lucumi Association at 305 888-8647.

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Date: 17 Jul 96 17:14:14 EDT From: Chester King <74222.1040@CompuServe.COM> Subject: US Yoruba practioners invited to Cuba Message-ID: <960717211413_74222.1040_BHT92-3@CompuServe.COM>