Caribbean Diaspora

Santería / Lucumí

Also known as: Regla de Ocha, La Regla de Ifá

Cuban, Yoruba-descended — Cuba

Supreme Creator

Olodumare

Also: Olorun, Olofi

Core Beliefs
  • • Transcendent supreme being (Olodumare)
  • • Orishas as emanations representing forces of nature
  • • Aché (Ashé) — divine life force
  • • Spirit possession during rituals
  • • Syncretism with Catholic saints
  • • Ancestor reverence (Egúngún)
Key Figures

Elegguá — Opener of ways, trickster

Changó — Orisha of thunder and fire

Yemayá — Orisha of the ocean and motherhood

Ochún — Orisha of rivers, love, and fertility

Divination System

Dilogun (cowrie shells), Ifá (Odù)

Priesthood

Santero/Santera, Babalao

Diaspora Connections

Yoruba Ifá (root tradition)Candomblé (Brazil)