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Afro-Cuban Myths: Yemaya and Other Orishas

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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

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.