The Ceiba and Baobab Trees
Sumi Ink, metal leaf, and watercolor on paper, 17" X 22"
Reinaldo Robinson, January 21, 2006. Perico, Cuba.
Los Lucumà sà y todas esas personas que vinieron del Africa, ellos realizaban cosas como la tÃa Felipa mÃa. Las cosas que ellos veÃan aquà eran igualitas a las cosas que veÃan allá, ahà todos los árboles, todas las cosas que habÃa aquà eran muy parecidas a Africa.. Entonces se la encontraron aquà y de eso es de lo que ellos hablaban, pero siempre ellos decÃan 'mira, oye y calla'. Entonces ellos realizaban sus cosas. También no sé si yo se los dije a ustedes ellos hacÃan una cosa, yo me rio porque hoy la cosa es distinta. Las consagraciones se hacÃan al que lo necesitaba, no a todo el mundo. El que tenÃa necesidad, esto es sin ofensa, de realizar algo y entonces hoy las cosas las entregan todas juntas, parece que es más fácil, pero aquello ellos lo entregaban por separado. Un ejemplo, a usted le hacÃa su consagración, era la que le tocaba y según iba pasando el tiempo que se iban presentando los escollos o los problemas, le iban entregando. (Page 8-9 Interview Book)
Reinaldo Robinson, January 21, 2006. Perico, Cuba.
Robinson: The Lucumis and all those people that came from Africa, made their things, the way my aunt Felipa did. They found equivalents here for all of the things they had seen in Africa, like trees. Everything here was quite similar to Africa. They found things here and they talked about that, but always saying, 'look, listen, and remain silent.' And so, that is how they created their things. Also, I don't know if I told you about one thing they did, and now I laugh because these days it is done in a very different way. Consecrations were done for those who were in need of them, not for everybody, for the person who was in need, and I mean no offense, of having a ritual. But today they give you everything all at once. It seems like it's easier, but elders did it separately. For example, you were consecrated and you only received what they considered necessary for you. As time went by and bumps appeared on your road, you received more.
Mario José, December 31, 2007, Agramonte, Cuba.
Mi bisabuela Ma Jacinta cuando nace, nace en la mano, un secreto, era OsaÃn, lo trajo de Africa en la mano. Y asà ellos traÃan sus cosas, se las tragaban. algunas cosas, lo vomitaban aquÃ, lo echaban, se lo sacaban, yo no sé de que forma y ahà fundamentaban con la experiencia que traÃan. No es que ella haya traÃdo completo la cazuela esa, ellos traÃan la esencia, otros traÃan su espÃritu, otros lo llamaban aquÃ, no hacÃa falta que trajeran esto, pero llamaban a Ogún porque el caldero puede estar aquÃ, pero si usted está en La Habana, usted llama a Ogún en La Habana. los atributos es una cosa, pero ellos traÃan, muchos trajeron sus deidades, sus secretos, lo traÃan de esa manera, unos en una piedra, otros los esclavizaron y ya ….
Mario José, December 31, 2007, Agramonte, Cuba.
Mario José: My great-grandmother Ma Jacinta was born with a secret in her hands. It was OsaÃn. She brought it from Africa in her hand. That's how they brought their things. Sometimes they swallowed them and they vomited them when they got here. They expelled them, they got them out, I don't know how, and then they created a 'fundamento' (consecration) using the experience they brought with them. It is not that she brought that whole entire cauldron with everything it contains, they brought the essence, some people brought their spirits with them, others called them here. It wasn't necessary to bring it, if they called to Ogún, although the caldron might be here, and you were in Havana, you would call to Ogún in Havana. The attributes are one thing, but many of them brought their deities, their secrets and they brought them this way, some in a stone, other people were enslaved, and the shackles were placed where they had power…