Presents

WHAT IS SANTERIA?

Ilekún Ashé is an Afro-Cuban Drum & Dance Ensemble performing Afro-Cuban religious music with acappella vocals and chorus. The lecture and seminar, produced, directed, created and narrated by Henry Mora is a forum on the Orishas (Santos, Saints) of the Santeria religion. A tribute to each Orisha is made to Afro-Cuban rhythms, songs and dances.

IlekúnAshé shown performing at Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA. February 2002

Santeria, deeply rooted in the African religion of the Yoruba people of West Africa, developed into its present form through religious persecution during the practice of slavery in the late 1800's. The Spanish slave trade brought slaves to the Western Hemisphere and in Cuba they were forced to discard their religious heritage and practice Catholicism. The slave obediently prayed to the Catholic Saints, but secretly substituted the prayer to one of the Orishas of the Yoruba religion, therefore the name Santeria. In Cuba where most of the religious transformation took place, Santeria is also known as La Regla Lucumi. Santeria is considered syncretistic, a religious duality embracing the Catholic faith and the Yoruba Religion.

The seminar consists of a one hour lecture and performance presented in an educational format. The presentation is performed in full costume and features an array of Afro-Cuban drums and percussion instruments which are discussed at the end of the seminar during a question and answer session.

Contact: Henry Mora

E-mail: emora16@earthlink.net for information or bookings

Phones: (909) 624-1124 - (213)215-4702

Ilekún Ashé is produced, directed, created and narrated by Henry Mora. Any copy or duplication is a violation of Federal Law.

Copyright 2002