1. West African Origins (Yorùbá tradition)

• The core of Lukumí comes from the Yorùbá religion of what is now Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.

• Yorùbá people, taken to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade, brought a complex spiritual system centered on the worship of òrìṣà—deities that embody natural forces, human virtues, and cosmic principles.

• Rituals, drumming, divination (like Ifá), and offerings to òrìṣà are central practices.

• In Cuba, the term “Lukumí” likely comes from the Yorùbá phrase oluku mi (“my friend”), which was used among Yorùbá speakers.

2. Catholic Syncretism in Colonial Cuba

• Enslaved Africans in Spanish colonies were often forced to convert to Catholicism.

• To preserve their traditions, they syncretized—associating each òrìṣà with a Catholic saint (e.g., Shango with Saint Barbara, Ochún with Our Lady of Charity).

• This allowed them to publicly honor saints while privately venerating their African deities.

3. Cuban Cultural Context

• Lukumí developed in a cultural melting pot—mixing African traditions with Spanish Catholic rituals, Indigenous Caribbean influences, and even elements from other African groups (like the Congo/Bantu traditions that influenced Palo Monte).

• Its music, language, and liturgy preserve Lukumí/Yorùbá liturgical language—an archaic form of Yorùbá—used in songs and prayers, even though most practitioners speak Spanish.

4. Community and Oral Tradition

• Knowledge is passed orally from elders to initiates, with ceremonies marking stages of initiation and deepening bonds between godparents (padrinos/madrinas) and godchildren.

• Drumming, dance, and ritual offerings are essential ways to communicate with the òrìṣà.

In short, Lukumí/Santería is an Afro-Cuban religion rooted in Yorùbá spirituality, shaped by the survival strategies of enslaved Africans, and layered with Catholic symbolism—a living testament to cultural resilience and creativity.