Santería

Santería, also known as Regla de Ocha or Lukumi, is an Afro-Cuban religion that developed among enslaved Yoruba people and their descendants in Cuba. It combines Yoruba religious concepts with elements of Roman Catholicism and other influences that arose in the Caribbean. Central to Santería is the belief in Olodumare as the supreme creator and in a pantheon of orishas, or deities, who act as intermediaries between humans and the divine. Individuals may work with one or more orishas, often through initiation and ritual practice.

Ritual life in Santería includes offerings, music, dance, and communal ceremonies, culminating in the possession of participants by the orishas. Drums, especially batá, play a key role in calling forth the deities and guiding ritual movement. Divination is central to the religion; a priestly class uses systems such as Ifá to determine which orisha is active for a given situation and what offerings or actions are required. The priesthood includes both male and female leaders, commonly referred to as babalawos (diviners) and iyalawos or santeras, who conduct ceremonies, initiate new adherents, and provide spiritual guidance.

Santería is notable for its Catholic syncretism, a historical result of colonial religious restrictions. Many orishas are associated with Catholic saints, and Catholic imagery or liturgical elements frequently appear in altars and rites. The religion has spread beyond Cuba to the Americas and the Caribbean diaspora, including the United States, where diverse communities maintain the tradition within a shared framework while reflecting local cultural influences.