When a tradition disappears, it is not just a dance or rhythm that is lost — it is an entire language of movement, history, music, and cultural knowledge.
Women, Orishas, and Power
Overall, I was surprised by the influence and prominence of women in Yoruba and Lukumí Afro-Cuban spiritual traditions. It was especially interesting because I found myself connecting many of these stories to Greek mythology. For example, just as Zeus had multiple wives, several Orishas also have complex relationships and marriages that shape their stories. As a woman, I found it empowering to learn about female warrior Orishas like Oyá and how women were portrayed as powerful, intelligent, and capable of acquiring knowledge that had previously been known only to the male Orisha Ogun, the divine blacksmith. One example is Oyá's discovery and mastery of the secrets of forging and using the machete, knowledge that, in some traditions, had belonged exclusively to Ogun.
Diaspora, Colonial Systems, and Divergent Paths
One of the most meaningful parts of the day was the two-hour conversation I had with Blanco. Throughout our discussion, the concept of the African diaspora remained a central theme. She explained how Yoruba people from present-day Nigeria were forcibly taken across the Atlantic through the transatlantic slave trade to places such as Cuba, Brazil, and Venezuela. Over time, the different landscapes, colonial systems, and living conditions in each country shaped how Yoruba religion and culture were preserved.
For example, Brazil was colonized by the Portuguese, while Cuba and Venezuela were colonized by the Spanish. According to Blanco, Spanish colonists were generally more likely to eliminate Indigenous populations, whereas Portuguese colonists more often incorporated Indigenous communities into colonial society. As a result, Brazil experienced greater cultural and religious blending with Indigenous traditions than Cuba or Venezuela, although all three regions were influenced by European culture and religion. This fusion shaped religious practices, stories, music, dance, language, and everyday life, giving Afro-Brazilian traditions their own distinct character. Despite these regional differences, Brazil, Cuba, and Venezuela all preserved the core teachings and spiritual foundations of Yoruba religion while adapting them to their local cultures.
Syncretism and Survival
Another concept that deeply impacted me was learning about the attempted cultural genocide carried out by European colonizers. Blanco explained that large Catholic images were placed in front of enslaved Yoruba people in an effort to force them to abandon their traditional beliefs and adopt Catholicism. Religious objects connected to Yoruba spirituality were often destroyed if discovered, so many enslaved people hid their sacred objects behind or beneath Catholic images as a way of preserving their faith. This practice of religious syncretism allowed many Yoruba traditions to survive despite intense oppression. Blanco also mentioned that large Catholic images remain common in Brazil today, reflecting the lasting influence of this history.
What Is Lost When a Tradition Disappears
Perhaps the most emotional part of our conversation was when Blanco spoke about cultural traditions that have completely disappeared. Some drumming styles, songs, and cultural practices have died out because there are no longer communities that remember or perform them. When a tradition disappears, it is not just a dance or rhythm that is lost — it is an entire language of movement, history, music, and cultural knowledge. Hearing this made me realize how fragile culture can be. Without people to preserve and pass down traditions, even the richest histories can vanish. It reminded me that preserving cultural heritage is not simply about remembering the past; it is about ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to learn from and experience these traditions as well.