Afro-Cuban Myths: Yemaya and Other Orishas

by Romulo Lachatanere

This book deals with the myths of the orishas. Since it was published in 1938 under the title Oh, M¡o Yemay !, it has become a classic in the field. It was the first attempt in Cuba to gather a sizeable sample of the numerous patak¡es or myths characteristic of the Regla de Ocha or Santer¡a, the most widespread of the Afro-Cuban religions practiced on the island. The author had to overcome prejudice that considered the religion and its associated literature undeserving of intellectual attention and at the same time penetrate the secrecy in which black believers cloaked their beliefs and practices, fearful with good reason of attracting disdain, desecration, and persecution.

156 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good: This one is a lot easier to read through, compared to similar books. It has a lot of nice but minimalistic black and white illustrations along with some of the sections. The design of the book makes it feel a bit like something geared towards young readers, which might make it a good gift for children/teens who have an interest in the religion (or just like stories).

The Bad: While I loved the feel of “Santeria Stories” in my hands, this one felt very cheap. Also, for some, the hard plastic-feeling cover and design might distract slightly from the content.

Overall: Aside from my gripes about the book design, the quality of the material seemed decent. It’s nowhere near as complete as other books, but seemed to cover most of the popular stories.

[Sumayyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent introduction to the mythology, but feels sslanted toward younger readers. I was hoping for something a bit more in depth; this offering feels like a collection of bedtime stories or campfire tales. 3.5 stars.

[Pablo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good basic introduction and to the point to the mythology of La Regla Lucumi (aka Santeria)