₦airaland Forum

My greetings,

I offer my perspective as a Latin American, if I may. I have often wondered how a Nigerian visitor would perceive Cuba. While I wouldn't recommend someone go seek employment there or anything like that, there are certain things about the island which may be of interest to academic tourists. The food is, incidentally, also quite wonderful to say nothing of the excelent rum. The people are very talkative and friendly and the music, especially that which is found in the rural areas far from western influences is very rich and beautiful. Anyway, there are certain places like Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba ETC. where there are very strong echoes of the Nigerian cultures of the poor unfortunate souls brought there to work the sugar plantations in the mid 19th century. There is, in particular, a group identifying themselves as the "Lucumí" people. This word allegedly finds its origins in a Yoruba phrase which, if memory serves is spelled "Olocu Mi" and is said to mean "My friend?" (I do not speak Yoruba, so, please excuse my uncertainty.) Anyway, these Lucumi people still speak a form of Yoruba in their liturgy when they sing songs to their gods and their ancestors accompanying themselves using a form of drum called the Batá drum. Their gods have very African-sounding names the spelling of which has been modified to fit into Spanish orthography. Prior to emancipation, these gods masqueraded as Catholic saints with similar attributes. Some people in this forum may recognize the names perhaps? Chango, god of thunder, Yemaya goddess of the sea, Ogun god of iron, Ochosi the hunter and Oba Talá who is some king of the gods as best as I can understand it. The only other deity I can recall at present is another water goddess called Ochun who I believe presides over fresh water sources like streams and rivers and such. I would be fascinated to find out how someone from today's Nigeria, specifically from the Yoruba would perceive an encounter with these people.
there are other groups with religious ties to an ancestral African region but the only other one that ties to Nigeria which I can currently call to mind is the Abakwa group. I think they have ties to the Igbo, the Efik and the Ibibio peoples. Thing is, they are very secretive and only allow men to join. Something of interest to lovers of Afro-caribbean music is that their rhythms heavily influenced some of the more popular styles of music to emerge from Cuba.

So, to conclude, you probably do not want to go live there but Cuba has some very interesting things to offer the discerning visitor. I myself would absolutely love to go visit there. I care nothing for politics or propaganda and do not form my opinions on a place or culture based on the critical word of outsiders. I have known Cubans all my life black as well as white since my mother's cousin married one of them some years back. I heave heard many stories about the great natural beauty of the place. I have been a tremendous fan of their music since I was a child and never turn down an opportunity to partake of some of their delicious foods like their white rice and black beans flavored with pork served with plantaines and yuca (you call it casaba or manioc?).

Be well and thank you most sincerely for your patience in reading this admittedly very long-winded post.