Santero
Ron

West Africa

Yoruba · 19th Century

Across the Atlantic

The Yoruba peoples of West Africa, from the lands now Nigeria and Benin, carried a rich religion with them when they were enslaved and brought to Cuba in great numbers in the first decades of the 19th century.

In Cuba, that faith was kept alive in the cabildos de nación, mutual-aid societies where African traditions were preserved, and where the old religion took new shape.

In the cabildos, the Yoruba orishas came to be honored alongside Roman Catholic saints, and the blending of the two traditions took hold. Fewer than twenty orishas came to play a prominent role in the new Cuban faith, where hundreds had been worshipped across West Africa.

The faith that grew from that meeting is a Cuban tradition, evident by the end of the 19th century, and a living religion still — in Cuba, and in Cuban communities across Latin America and the United States.

The Saints

Cuba · The Way of the Saints

The way of the saints

Santería takes its name from the saints — santos. The Yoruba orishas came to be honored alongside Roman Catholic saints: Changó, orisha of thunder and lightning, is celebrated on the feast day of Saint Barbara. Devotees became known as santeros.

The tradition is also called Regla de Ocha, the Rule of the Orisha, and Lucumí, the name by which the Yoruba were known in Cuba.

Cane rum has long been among the offerings presented to the orishas.

Iwa Pele

The Values · Good Character

Good character

At the heart of the Yoruba tradition stands good character — iwa pele. The person who lives it is called omoluwabi: honest, respectful, and giving to the community.

The tradition holds fast to truth, to care for family and community, and to honoring those who came before. Santero Ron carries the name in that spirit of respect.

• HonestyTruthfulness builds trust.
• RespectAccorded to every person.
• CommunityGiven to in deeds and in action.
• AncestorsThose who came before, honored.