Date of Award
5-11-2013
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Thesis
Department
Dance
First Advisor
Cynthia Pratt
Abstract
Santeria is a religion that originated in Cuba in the 1600's and grew out of the tensions between two ethnic groups: Spanish slave masters and West African slaves. Their religions- Catholicism and Ifa, respectively- coalesced to create a syncretism, or amalgamation of multiple concepts. This syncretism, Santeria, is an extraordinarily complex religion through which adherents communicate with God and deities called orishas using prayer, music, dance, divination, and rituals. Though many claim certain truths about Santeria, they are often contradictory and unfounded, making it difficult to accurately understand the religion. However, with effort, these truths can be pieced together to describe a religion completely engrained in present day Cuban society.
Recommended Citation
Reed, Lauren, "Dancing With the Gods; Santeria's Historical Context in Eastern Cuba" (2013). Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection. 234.
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/ugtheses/234