Afro-Cuban Religiosity, Revolution, And National Identity (History of African-American Religions)

Afro-Cuban Religiosity, Revolution, And National Identity (History of African-American Religions)

By Christine Ayorinde

Book Description

Christine Ayorinde presents a compelling exploration of how spiritual traditions have shaped modern Cuban identity through the lens of Afro-Cuban religious practices, particularly santeria. Drawing from extensive fieldwork conducted within Cuba, this scholarly examination reveals the complex relationship between ancient West African spiritual wisdom and contemporary revolutionary politics.

Through intimate interviews with diverse practitioners spanning generations, Ayorinde captures voices from across Cuban society. Her conversations include longtime devotees with fifty years of experience, recent initiates discovering their spiritual path, Communist Party members navigating faith within political frameworks, and religious entrepreneurs sustaining themselves through sacred practice. The research extends beyond practitioners to encompass academics, journalists, government officials, and cultural commentators who recognize santeria's growing significance in national identity.

The book traces Cuba's spiritual evolution from colonial encounters with European Christianity through nineteenth-century slave religious practices to twentieth-century periods when spiritual traditions faced criminalization. Ayorinde examines how Cuban patriot Jose Marti's vision of racial brotherhood influenced religious expression and how witchcraft fears once marginalized these practices.

Focusing particularly on developments since 1959, the work illuminates how Cuba's revolutionary government has grappled with contradictory positions regarding Afro-Cuban spirituality. As contemporary Cuba reassesses aspects of its revolutionary path, this study positions itself at the forefront of understanding how ancient spiritual wisdom continues to influence modern cultural identity and political discourse.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)

📄 Length: 283 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Religious life and customs
  • ✓ Explore African americans, history
  • ✓ Explore Cuba, social conditions
  • ✓ Explore Santeria
  • ✓ Explore Nationalism
  • ✓ Explore Black people
  • ✓ Explore Blacks
  • ✓ Explore African americans, religion

Topics Covered

Religious life and customs African americans, history Cuba, social conditions Santeria Nationalism Black people Blacks African americans, religion Religion

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