The project: A four year long research and B/W photographic documentary into the mysterious and magical world of Afro-Cuban religion.
Afro-Cuban religion, commonly known as SANTERIA is a faith based on divinities (Orishas) and traditions imported from Africa, incorporating catholic images and saints.
This syncretism of African culture and Spanish Catholicism actually breaks up into different branches with different forms and beliefs:
SANTERIA (Regla de Ocha), and IFA’ originate from the Yoruba culture in Nigeria. PALO MONTE (Regla de Mayombe), originates from the Bantu’ culture in the Congo. ESPIRITISM has no direct African origin, and is probably the most influenced by Catholicism.
These main faiths themselves break up into other branches due to the different geographical region where the slaves were taken from, and different regions of practice in Cuba.
The purpose of this photo project is to carefully document this complex religion, its different ceremonies and rich folklore; a window into a magical world, a world where African spirits manifest their presence in everyday Cuban life.
