Santeria

Santeria (or La Regla Lucumi or Regla de Ocha) is an Afro-Cuban religion that combines the traditional belief systems of the Yoruba peoples of Nigeria and Benin with elements of Catholicism. It arose in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when the slave trade brought many of these people to the shores of Cuba, Brazil, Haiti, Trinidad and Puerto Rico. The slaves were expected to adopt the Catholic religion, which they did, but with a twist: they incorporated the Saints among their traditional deities or Orisha (Oricha).
"Santería is based upon the development of personal relationships through divination, sacrifice, initiation, and mediumship between practitioners of the religion and the Orisha deities, who provide their devotees with protection, wisdom, and success and who guide devotees in times of crisis. Most Ifáconsultations prescribe some form of sacrifice to one or several of the Orishas. These offerings may range from simple presentations before home altars to elaborate feasts in the Orishas' honour." 
The illustrations of this video are from a set of seventeen lithographs of Orisha by Alberto del Pozo from about the 1980s, courtesy of University of Miami Digital Libraries.

Visual artist Alberto del Pozo (1945-1992) was born in Santa Clara, Cuba. With his parents, he was exiled to the United States in 1961. He attended Coral Gables High School in Miami and Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. From 1970 to 1975, he worked as a costume and set designer for Brooks Van Horn. Returning to Miami in 1976, he dedicated himself to his art. Del Pozo died in Miami at age 46 in 1992.

0:00 - Ochún. The Goddess of love and of money, Ochún is mistress of fresh waters. 
0:12 -- Oba. Guardian of the hearth, Oba is the iyare, or first wife, of Changó. 
0:24 -- Yemayá. Queen of the waters, Yemayá is the mother of all Orichas. 
0:36 - Oricha Oko. Worshipped by women during the new moon, Oricha Oko is the god of agriculture and the harvest, and master of fertile lands and farm tools. 
0:48 - Babalú Aye. Also known as Chopono, this fearsome God is always accompanied by two yellow spotted dogs.
1:00 - Echú Eleguá. Among the most ancient of the orishas Echú Eleguá is the messenger of the gods, who forges roads, protects the house, and is heaven's gate-keeper. 
1:12 -- Changó.
Extremely handsome, Changó is a fearless warrior. He is the god of thunder and fire and is notorious as a woman chaser and superb dancer. .
1:23 -- Ochumare. Symbolizing peace and harmony, Ochumare is the god of the rainbow, the link between heaven and earth.
1:34 -- Oya. Also known as Yansa, Oya is Changó's third wife. She is the goddess of the winds and of lightning and is mistress of the cemetery gates. 
1:46 -- Ogun. The blacksmith god of metal and war, Ogun is the implaccable enemy of his brother Chango. 
1:58 -- Inle. Also known as Erinle, this androgynous god lives in rivers and is one of Ochún's lovers. Inle is the divine healer and god of medicine.
2:10 -- Orula. Orula is the father of time and lord of divination. 
2:22 -- Yewa. Living in the cemetery, Yewa is the goddess of death and mistress of all souls. She is deeply respected and feared.
2:33 -- Ibeyi. Ibeyi are Taibo and Kainde, the twin sons of Changó and Ochún. Princes of mischief, they sometimes disguise themselves as little girls. 
2:45 -- Obatala. The father of the orichas, Obatala is master of the head, the body (soul and flesh) and all the heavens. 
2:56 -- Osain. Osain is a god of the jungle and all plants. He is short and is missing his left leg and right arm. 
3:07 -- Ochosi. A great warrior, adored by women, Ochosi is the god of wild animals and the chase, who instructs hunters in the use of weapons. Inventor of the bow and arrow are his symbols.

Music by Keith Jarrett, 'Spirits 10'.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• shivabel
• art

[shivabel]

@Vertigo1871 Già, una melancholy lady afro-cubana :-)

[Vertigo1871]

Splendida Yewa a 2:23!