Eric Alexander Arroyo is a Miami-born Cuban-American cartoonist who obsesses over flowing scarves. He studied cartooning at the School of Visual Arts and currently lives in Brooklyn. He is a co-editor of Boy, I Love You, a comics anthology of stories inspired by the Boys’ Love genre. He is definitely drawing giant robots while listening to ABBA.
Our goal for La Raza Anthologyis to present stories that are considered uncommon to those outside the Latinx community. We enjoy reading our contributors’ stories especially if we can learn new things from other Latinx cultures.
For example, Collaresby Eric A. Arroyo is a comic about his relationship with the strongest cultural link to his Cuban heritage: Santería. Because of a falling out with certain members in his community, as an adolescent and into adulthood, his relationship with Santería became tenuous. That is, until he realized the importance of his religion as it shapes his spiritual faith and identity.
Because there is much mystery and misconceptions surrounding Santería, Eric provides a wonderful insight into the religion without giving the impression that his experiences as a Santero are universal. (fyi: Collares is a reference to Elekes or Santería bead necklaces)
Here’s a sample of Collares:
You can read the rest of Collaresin our Anthology book which we’re trying to fund with our current Kickstarterso we can support more marginalized Latinx artists like Eric <3
We highly recommend reading more of Eric’s comics and even follow his tumblr!
War water causes hex but it also repels and remove them. Add war water to your bath water and soak yourself with the water as you focus upon your desires. Do this once a week.
This will help to remove all negative energy/hex upon you and keep you open to receive good things and no more obsactles this year.
This is tested and trusted spell that works with no side effect.
Health or sickness,success or failure,wealth or poverty all begins from the mind. Your physical body and material affairs reflect your state of mind. The person with a positive attitude and strong belief in health prevents sickness from entering or coming close to the person.
Everything you do in this month of January should be at the best,you wear fine clothes,eat good,have good rest at the end of each day,have good meditation session on your own. Neat clothes should be worn all through this month especially white clothes at night. Do things that brings you joy. There are two cleansing you should concentrate on this month period which are house cleansing and personal cleansing. For house cleansing sweep all dirt and drop them at crossroads do this twice in a week. Get oranges and tangerines share them as gifts to loved ones and friends for yourself when you lick an orange or tangerine the first seed you encounter please dry them and carry in your purse this will bring financial luck always and go closer to yemaya in this month give her white roses. I assure you this will be your best year you will shine and Excel in all you do.
Ibeyi, made up of Cuban-born, Paris-based twin sisters NaomiandLisa-Kaindé Díaz, is an electronic doom soul duo who are forging a new spiritual sound with their debut EP Oya. The 19-year-old musicians are XL Recordings‘ newest signees, and their introductory singles “Oya” and “River” possess a hypnotic blend of hip-hop, electronica, and blues infused with Yoruba prayers and folk songs that will transport you to a higher realm upon first listen.
Singing in French, English, Spanish and Yoruba, Ibeyi count among their primary influences Nina Simone,Meshell Ndegeocello, James Blake and their late father, the celebrated Cuban jazz percussionist Miguel “Anga” Diaz. Ibeyi’s vocal range, which wavers from the raspy and wraith-like to the sonorous and divine, is ideal for their sonic palette which revels in the phantasmagorical groove of liturgical Yoruba songs. Besides singing in Yoruba–which was brought to Cuba by West African slaves–Ibeyi honor their father’s legacy and Afro-Cuban heritage through their percussive production and use of live instruments. Beatsmith Naomi plays both the cajón and the batá while Lisa-Kaindé remains more in tune with the musical mythos of Ibeyi’s sound by weaving Yoruba lore deeply into their lyrics. “River” is dedicated to the goddess Oshun (the mother of the Ibeyi, and their first single and EP are both named for Oya (the benevolent orisha who took the Ibeyi in after Oshun was accused of witchcraft for birthing twins and kicked them out).
In a recent interview produced by NOWNESS, the sisters revealed that the underlying theme of their forthcoming debut effort, which they worked on closely with XL‘s label head Richard Russell, is family and prayer. Though no further details have been released, expect more of Ibeyi’s haunting diasporic spirituals sometime soon. Watch the video for “River” above, and the video for “Oya” here. Oya is out now via XL Recordings. Stay caught up with news from the duo on Facebook andTwitter
The Orisha altar is normally in the house of worship (casa templo) which is normally where the Santería priest/priestess also known as (santero or santera) would live it would be a room in their house that would be private to people other than the practitioner of that temple, This altar is for the orisha, These altars are considered to be expensive and time-consuming. Blessed items and relevant items to the orisha are placed on the altar, it is also possible for practitioners to have altars to specific orisha in their own home. These altars typically have porcelain vessels, often tureens, which contain various sacred items, most notably the otán stones, These Stone are regarded as both containing and representing the orisha the stones are treated as being alive they are one of the highest regarded tools in santeria.
Spirit Altars
The Spirit altar is one that you can find in almost any Practitioners home this altar is set up with white laces or fabric With Family photos, Heirlooms, candles to honor their family ancestors these altars are more personal than being particular
—Altar Candle/Fire Safety Tips— 1. Any candle that’s not in a jar should have a heatproof dish under it 2. Candles that are on a shelf should be watched at all time of it being lit… (should have 3 feet above candle free) 3. Candles placed on a window seal should be watched and curtains moved completely out of the way and in winter candles shouldn’t be near a cold window it can cause Stress fractures and can break windows. 4. having oils, cologne, perfume, near candles or incense for long periods of time can make them go rancid and some can be flammable 5. Incenses should be watched at all times 6. clear quartz crystal balls should be covered (fire hazard if the sun hit them)
—Altar Liquid Safety— 1. Any bowls/cups of water should have a collection dish under it heat and cold will make it sweat and can cause warping on your wood altars also can ruin altar cloths and other fabric items you might have on your altar.
—Altar Sharp Items Safety— 1. Any knives, swords, bowlines, and so forth should have their sleeves on them just in case you have children that come into or are living in your home. (or keep put away in a drawer) 2. Some crystals can be sharp-pointed and should be placed further back on an altar this is for your safety and everyone else. (tripping and falling onto said item would not be a fun trip to the Dr) Note: If you have other safety tips I have missed please feel free to let me know and I will update the list.
It’s the time of the year where a lot of people who offer their services when it comes to tarot, ifa readings and even astrology are getting booked. A lot of people want to get a glimpse ahead of what may potentially could happen in the near future. Of course, all of this is subjective because at the end of the day, you’re in charge of your own destiny. However, as someone who practices the art…
These are worn by all Voodoos to carry the protection and blessings of their favorite Orisha.
The first one to be worn is of course Eleggua or Legba (black & red). To open the doors, clear the way, remove barriers and obstacles in life.
Other beads shown are Oggun (green and black) . For work opportunities and protection from accidents and in battle.
Obatala (white). For peace and justice in all things.
Yemaya (blue and white). She is the Godess of all mothers and all seas and oceans. She helps protect mothers and children, promotes fertility, abundance and calm your sorrows.
Oxun or Oshun (yellow/amber). Our Lady of Charity, patron-saint of Cuba. She is the mistress of all loves and passion. Brings abundance but remember that abundance is in the sharing!
Chango (red and white). Once king of Africa, Chango promotes virility, good health and vitality. Will protect you from lightning and storms.
Oya (not shown: wine color). The wise woman, she facilitates changes in life and helps you fight your battles.
The Pataki of Orisha Oko Orisha Oko was a man that tended to his job with the upmost respect. He would work all day on his crops to make sure the crops are growing as said. Once the sun would start to go down and the moon would rise, he would go to bed and leave his brother Korinkoto to tend the crop fields as tomorrow was another long day. One morning Orisha Oko was walking near the seashore planting his crops in a new town to help bring harvest for them.
He noticed a beautiful woman in the waters and was struck by her. He put down his farming tools and walked towards the sea and yelled out to her. She turned around and stayed looking at him. In his eyes, you can notice the look of a similar puppy love he had for the women laying in the sea. The women looked straight at him and told her that her name was Ibu Agana Eni and she was not looking for any type of love affairs of puppy looks because she had a defect that made it impossible not to leave the ocean. Note* Different people say that the woman he saw in the ocean was Olokun and that’s who spoke to him.
Olokun to some including myself is derived as a male orisha, father of the bottom of the ocean floor. It was an aspect of Yemaya that spoke to Orisha Oko. Orisha Oko looked at Agana and told her that he didn’t care about her defeated looks. He told her that he did not care of that. Agana told him ok, and she then told him to make a pact with her. She told him, you never discuss or make fun of my defect or we will separate and never talk again.
Orisha Oko who was yearning for love none the less a wife agreed to the pact. Ibu Agana agreed and she started to come to the waters edge. Now Agana had a beautiful face but her body was somewhat deformed. She had one leg bigger than the other, multiple scars and blisters near her womb area and she had one breast. Orisha Oko seeing this paid no attention to it. Olofi seeing all of this from the heavens came down and told Orisha Oko that he did not want any disrespect towards Agana. He told Orisha Oko that he made a castle for Agana deep in the ocean so she wouldn’t be ridiculed by anyone for her defects. Orisha Oko gave Olofi his word that he will never disrespect Ibu Agana and he will always cherish her.
Olofi then told the both that they needed to be married. Years passed on and Orisha Oko and Ibu Agana lived happily together. Due to the fact that Orisha Oko’s harvest was so abundant, he decided to sell his crops. So Orisha Oko would go and collect the crops and the fruits that he grew and took them to his wife where she would sell them to the people. Every day the townspeople would come and purchase their harvest from Agana at the seashore. She always was dressed to hide her defects from the world so they would not make fun of her. One day some townsmen came to the seashore to buy some fruits from Agana. They stayed staring at the orisha and were whispering under their breath to one another.
Ibu Agana was feeling very reluctant and asked them what were they discussing. They told her that they came because there was a man who plowed the fields has said that there is a woman by the seashore who is totally deformed. Agana got such in a rage that she turned into a ghostly figure. You could see the hurt and dismay of her face. She left the sea and went to where Orisha Oko was at. When Orisha Oko saw her approaching him, he was wondering why his wife was coming to him at such a fast pace and in such a rage. Agana told him of the hurt and the promise he broke to her and she stated that as while the world is the world, I will always detest you and we will live in separate places. And you will live far from me and you and I will go upon your lands whenever I feel like it.
I will never talk to you and everyone must pay homage to me and with that I will save my children who honor me. I will assign Elegua who is the guardian of Olofi’s house, to receive the souls of the children of the earth as well as yourself. I curse you that your own weapons will turn against you, your animals will also turn against you. The lands that you fertilize will become bad soil. Your children will no longer be your children, you will never see the fruit of your harvest and man will always step on your grounds. She then turned around and disappeared into the ocean.
Olofi who was very upset at Orisha Oko and he descended to where he was at and told him with a strong voice that upon what Agana told him, his harvest will always shrivel and die. The box that he uses to help with his harvest will die of thirst, and the land will become sour. Orisha Oko upset and shamed didn’t know where to turn his head as he has just be scolded by the great Olofi. He went and collected fruits, a pig, and harvest and made a haste to the seashore. He constructed a makeshift boat and sailed out into the sea.
The oceans water became very rocky as Agana was still in such a rage. There Orisha Oko made a sacrifice to Agana and told Elegua to take the sacrifice to her. He returned to land and picked up all the scraps from the marketplace with 2 roosters and made a sacrifice to Elegua at the well. He left there and sacrificed one of the ox’s to Olofi in forgiveness. By him doing these ebbos or offerings, he was able to diminish the epidemic that was coming upon the land from Agana.
Olofi spoke to him from the heavens and told Orisha Oko that he was pleased with the sacrifice and he saw his serenity of what he did and from that day forth Orisha Oko will have his harvest and be the orisha of ii and his lands will always live very far from the ocean. This is where love was born and then died.
She turned around and stayed looking at him. In his eyes, you can notice the look of a similar puppy love he had for the women laying in the sea. The women looked straight at him and told her that her name was Ibu Agana Eni and she was not looking for any type of love affairs of puppy looks because she had a defect that made it impossible not to leave the ocean. Note* Different people say that the woman he saw in the ocean was Olokun and that’s who spoke to him.
Olokun to some including myself is derived as a male orisha, father of the bottom of the ocean floor. It was an aspect of Yemaya that spoke to Orisha Oko. Orisha Oko looked at Agana and told her that he didn’t care about her defeated looks. He told her that he did not care of that. Agana told him ok, and she then told him to make a pact with her. She told him, you never discuss or make fun of my defect or we will separate and never talk again. Orisha Oko who was yearning for love none the less a wife agreed to the pact.
Ibu Agana agreed and she started to come to the waters edge. Now Agana had a beautiful face but her body was somewhat deformed. She had one leg bigger than the other, multiple scars and blisters near her womb area and she had one breast. Orisha Oko seeing this paid no attention to it. Olofi seeing all of this from the heavens came down and told Orisha Oko that he did not want any disrespect towards Agana. He told Orisha Oko that he made a castle for Agana deep in the ocean so she wouldn’t be ridiculed by anyone for her defects.
Orisha Oko gave Olofi his word that he will never disrespect Ibu Agana and he will always cherish her. Olofi then told the both that they needed to be married. Years passed on and Orisha Oko and Ibu Agana lived happily together. Due to the fact that Orisha Oko’s harvest was so abundant, he decided to sell his crops. So Orisha Oko would go and collect the crops and the fruits that he grew and took them to his wife where she would sell them to the people. Every day the townspeople would come and purchase their harvest from Agana at the seashore. She always was dressed to hide her defects from the world so they would not make fun of her. One day some townsmen came to the seashore to buy some fruits from Agana. They stayed staring at the orisha and were whispering under their breath to one another.
Ibu Agana was feeling very reluctant and asked them what were they discussing. They told her that they came because there was a man who plowed the fields has said that there is a woman by the seashore who is totally deformed. Agana got such in a rage that she turned into a ghostly figure. You could see the hurt and dismay of her face. She left the sea and went to where Orisha Oko was at. When Orisha Oko saw her approaching him, he was wondering why his wife was coming to him at such a fast pace and in such a rage. Agana told him of the hurt and the promise he broke to her and she stated that as while the world is the world, I will always detest you and we will live in separate places.
And you will live far from me and you and I will go upon your lands whenever I feel like it. I will never talk to you and everyone must pay homage to me and with that, I will save my children who honor me. I will assign Elegua who is the guardian of Olofi’s house, to receive the souls of the children of the earth as well as yourself. I curse you that your own weapons will turn against you, your animals will also turn against you. The lands that you fertilize will become bad soil.
Your children will no longer be your children, you will never see the fruit of your harvest and man will always step on your grounds. She then turned around and disappeared into the ocean. Olofi who was very upset at Orisha Oko and he descended to where he was at and told him with a strong voice that upon what Agana told him, his harvest will always shrivel and die. The box that he uses to help with his harvest will die of thirst, and the land will become sour. Orisha Oko upset and shamed didn’t know where to turn his head as he has just be scolded by the great Olofi. He went and collected fruits, a pig, and harvest and made a haste to the seashore.
He constructed a makeshift boat and sailed out into the sea. The oceans water became very rocky as Agana was still in such a rage. There Orisha Oko made a sacrifice to Agana and told Elegua to take the sacrifice to her. He returned to land and picked up all the scraps from the marketplace with 2 roosters and made a sacrifice to Elegua at the well. He left there and sacrificed one of the ox’s to Olofi in forgiveness. By him doing these ebbos or offerings, he was able to diminish the epidemic that was coming upon the land from Agana.
Olofi spoke to him from the heavens and told Orisha Oko that he was pleased with the sacrifice and he saw his serenity of what he did and from that day forth Orisha Oko will have his harvest and be the orisha of ii and his lands will always live very far from the ocean. This is where love was born and then died.
“May our universal mother Yemaya/Yemoja bestow upon us Ase, Blessings”.
O My Yemaya Mother Of The World Sea Goddess Take away the bad and Throw it into the sea O My Yemaya Bless us, Protect us, and Deliver us from evil. O Mio Yemaya. Ashé, By: Iya Olawo Che Image/Artist: Unknown Ile Ashe Page
Oh hey, want to get in on this last minute deal? Because we love you and to celebrate co-founder, Javier Wallace’s new venture into his PhD on AfroLatin Americans in sports we are offering our Labor Day Weekend trip for $1,500! Let’s all congratulate Javier Wallace together and thank him for continuing the work.
It includes roundtrip flight from major cities such as NYC, DC, Miami, Atlanta - accommodations, visa, most meals, airport transfer, and a full people-to-people Black Cuba itinerary with actual Black Cubans from and living in Cuba, speaking from their own Black experience. [email protected] for any and all the questions and details. Only 4 spots available.
A few highlights from Afrolatino Travel’s Tambor-Rumba Community Day we had on December 30th. We are having another one on Thursday, March 17th, 2016 and Friday, May 27, 2016. We also take participants to Matanzas to learn about the history and contemporary manifestations of Ñañiguismo aka Abakua, an AfroCuban male “secret” society.
Our local guide is a practitioner of Yoruba and Abakua as well as a “son of Añá,” what Yoruba religion drummers are sworn as. We had an amazing fellowship! Our madrina, Franci, opened her home to us and the tamboreros even helped in prepared our amazing meal! Ashe! Co-edited by Nehad Khader and Rashid Zakat, Shot by Rashid Zakat
