  In certain
states the Yoruba are only allowed to play their drums once a week. In Louisiana
they were only permitted to play their drums in an area far away from the
slave master's home.
They
introduced them to Christianity in hopes of controlling them and erasing their
identity. However, the Yorubas only incorporated or added Christianity into
their culture.
The slave
Owners couldn't control the Yorubas, they were afraid of them. Because they
would beat their drums, called the talking drum, whereby they would communicate
and call on their ancestors by the way of Juju (Magic Spell). The slave owners
would end up dead. So, these Yoruba slaves would be out into the field and
the Islamic Christianized monotheistic slaves, would be used to spy on them.
But when
the Europeans realized what was going on, they banned the playing of all drums
by any slave. However, the slaves change their tactics and started using word
of mouth. It was from the word of mouth, that the 'Lucumi' and 'Santeria'
culture was established.
Due to
strong and devious influence of Catholic Spanish-speaking slave masters, most
of the Yoruba slaves began to identify Yoruba Deities with Christian God and
Saints of the Catholic Church. This is how Santeria started. The word Santeria
is derived from the Spanish word meaning "Saint". Top Right: The
Equivalent Deities |
