Babalawo, Santeria's High Priests: Fathers of the Secrets in Afro-Cuban IFA

(Paperback)

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Hidden within the mysterious Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria, also known as Lucumi, there is a deep body of secrets and rituals called Ifa, practised by priests whose title, babalawo, means Father of the Secrets. This book pulls away the veil of secrecy to reveal exactly what Ifa is and how it works, exploring its history, cosmology, Orichas, initiations, mythology, ways of power, offerings, and sacrifices. Join Frank Baba Eyiogbe in this fascinating introduction that discusses the functions of the babalawo, the role of women, and the future of Ifa.

Reviews

"A wonderful and much needed addition to the literature on Afro-Cuban religion. Engagingly written, scholarly while remaining accessible . . . it presents an up-to-date exposition of both the history and contemporary philosophy of one of the world's most complex systems of divination."--Stephan Palmi, Chair of the Department of Anthropology and Social Sciences at the University of Chicago and author of The Cooking of History: How Not to Study Afro-Cuban Religion

Author Bio

Frank Baba Eyiogbe has been practising Santeria for more than twenty-five years and has attained the highest level of babalawo, Olofista. He has maintained the premier Santeria website, www.orishanet.org, for more than sixteen years. He has guest lectured at the University of Washington as well as UC Berkeley.