Afro-Cuban Myths: Yemaya and Other Orishas [Hardcover]

Romulo Lachatanere (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1558763171 | ISBN-13: 978-1558763173 | Publication Date: May 1, 2006 | Edition: 1st

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A collection of myths from the Yoruba branch of Afro-Cuban religions, the Spanish original of this book (1938) was a pioneer publication in the field. Lachatanere interviewed a practitioner of the most widespread Afro-Cuban religion; taking special care to maintain the oral style in the development of the stories, he reveals the freshness of the narrator's perspective as he outlines the cosmological fabric created by the encounter of the African people with the Catholic religion. The book includes stories of important deities, that will help the reader understand the conceptual world of the believers. Those interested in learning about Afro-Cuban music, art, and poetry will find in this translation an introductory manual to the language, certain foods used in ceremonies, and the role of divination and figures such as the trickster. Jorge Castellanos, a scholar who has published widely on the influence of African culture on Cuban society, provides an introduction that places the author's work in its social and cultural context. The volume includes a short glossary and a selection of songs and prayers dedicated to the deities. Summing up: Recommended. General readers." â --O.B. Gonzalez, Loyola University for Choice Magazine

About the Author

Romulo Lachatanere (1909 1952) was the first Afro-Cuban intellectual to write extensively on Afro-Cuban religious practices. Together with Fernando Ortiz and Lydia Cabrera, he was the founder of Afro-Cuban research and made it part of the Cuban heritage. His main works offer a description of Santeria and fall somewhere between ethnology and literature. Since its publication in 1938 under the title "Oh, mio yemay ," this book has become a classic in its field. The book is illustrated by Siegfried Kaden, Instituto Superior de las Artes Pl sticas, Havana.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 156 pages
• Publisher: Markus Wiener Publishers; 1st edition (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558763171
• ISBN-13: 978-1558763173
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,050,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Afro-Cuban Myths, January 2, 2005

By 

Markus Wiener - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Afro-Cuban Myths: Yemaya and Other Orishas (Paperback)

This book deals with the myths of the orishas. Since it was published in
1938 under the title Oh, Mío Yemayá!, it has become a classic in the
field. It was the first attempt in Cuba to gather a sizeable sample of
the numerous patakíes or myths characteristic of the Regla de Ocha or
Santería, 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.

About Romulo Lachatañere:
The author (1909-1952) was the first Afro-Cuban intellectual to write extensively on Afro-Cuban religious practices. Together with Fernando Ortiz and Lydia Cabrera, he was the founder of Afro-Cuban research and made it part of the Cuban heritage. His main works offer a description of Santeria and fall somewhere between ethnology and literature. Since its publication in 1938 under the title "Oh, mio yemayá," this book has become a classic in its field. The book is illustrated by Siegfried Kaden, Instituto Superior de las Artes Plásticas, Havana.

About Siegfried Kaden:
Paiter and bookdesigner living in Havana, Cuba and Munich, Germany. He illustrated this book and Cuba Legends by Salvadore Bueno.
Hardcover Info:
ISBN 1-55876-317-1
180pp
$49.95

Paperback Info:
ISBN 1-55876-318-X
180pp
$24.95

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A collection of myths and tales first published in 1938 under the title "Oh, Mio Yemaya!, December 13, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Afro-Cuban Myths: Yemaya and Other Orishas (Paperback)

The late Romula Lachatanere (1909-1952) was the first Afro-Cuban intellectual to write extensively on Afro-Cuban religious practices. Afro-Cuban Myths: Yemaya And Other Orishas is a collection of myths and tales first published in 1938 under the title "Oh, Mio Yemaya!". The first book to collect a sizeable sample of Cuban myths characteristic of the most widespread Afro-Cuban religion, Regla de Ocha, also known as Santeria, Afro-Cuban Myths is both exciting to read and thought-provoking in its responses to fundamental questions of popular theology and philosophy. Most of the myths are quite brief. Although they are no more graphic or gruesome than uncensored Greek and Roman myths, these uncensored Afro-Cuban fables (just like original Greek, Roman, and many other myths) are emphatically for mature readers only. Afro-Cuban myths includes stories of taboo subjects such as a son submitting to the incest of his mother, and tragic tales such as a wife who sacrifices her ears for her husband yet is then rejected for compromising her beauty. The black-and-white illustrations perfectly complement this recommended addition to mythology shelves.