SUGGESTED READING

For those who desire more general information about the religion Santería and its basic beliefs, the following books are highly recommended.

Angarica, Nicolas V. Manual del Orihate, Religión Lucumí. Havana, Cuba: Private printing, 1955.

This is one of my favorite underground texts; it is available only through botánicas and is somewhat hard to obtain as it is continually mimeographed and republished by individuals, not publishers. While attributed to the work of Angarica (a godchild of Octavio Sama, omo Aganyú, Obadameji), Angarica was mostly illiterate. One of his godchildren (name unknown to this author) wrote the book based on Angarica’s teachings. It teaches the reading of composite odu; however, unlike the method taught in this book, it bases its teachings on the “marriage” of two signs. For example, when one reads about the odu 3-6 in Manual del Orihate, it is a combination of the meanings of the parent odu Ogundá and the parent odu Obara. While this is a valid way to read composites, there is far more to the aché of each letter than this. Its study, however, will enrich the reader’s knowledge of diloggún. This book is published only in Spanish.

Bascom, William R. Ifá Divination. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1969.

_____. Sixteen Cowries. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1970.

William Bascom is the American authority on African spirituality. Although none of his books provides the instructional material needed to work any of the oracles, his writings are filled with scholarly information about the African traditions. His two books are filled with a wealth of patakís for each odu, and our diviners are continually turning to these volumes as a source of information and clarification.

Cabrera, Lydia. El Monte: Igbo, Finda, Ewe Orisha, Vititi Nfinda. Miami: Ediciones Universal, 1975.

_____. Ochún y Yemayá. Miami: Ediciones Universal, 1970.

Lydia Cabrera was a “cultural anthropologist” who did her field work in Cuba. While not an initiate of Santería at the time she was researching, most of her work is accurate. Priests and priestesses often refer to these works, and other books she wrote, for information. All of her books are published only in Spanish.

Canizares, Raul. Walking with the Night: The Afro-Cuban World of Santería. Rochester, Vt.: Destiny Books, 1993.

This book is a wonderful testament to the power of Santería from a man who not only was raised in the religion but also was initiated at a very young age. It is filled with anecdotes and personal stories that illustrate the intervention of the orishas in his life. It is an inspirational must-read for those involved in all levels of the religion.

Castillo, J. M. Ifá en Tierra de Ifá. Newark, N.J.: Castillo House, 1976.

This is an interesting book. The title makes one think that it is about the odu Ifá; however, the author promotes himself on the book’s cover with the title “Oba, Oriaté.” These are titles of an orisha priest or priestess who has mastered the ceremonies of ocha. They have nothing to do with Ifá. Most of the information contained therein is about odu diloggún, although Castillo refers to them by their markings and names in Ifá. While the book can be confusing, it is a good read; like Cortez’s book (below), it is also an underground classic and rarely sold to those who are not initiates known to the botánica owner. This volume is published only in Spanish.

Cortez, Enrique. Secretos del Oriaté de la Religión Yoruba. New York: Vilaragut Articulos Religiosos Corp., 1980.

This book is difficult to obtain. It is privately published and distributed through botánicas. It is often hidden behind counters where none can see them; most of these businesses will sell the book only to those who they know “have aché” or initiation. If one can obtain this volume, it is excellent. Published in poorly written Spanish, it is still a wealth of information about the odu diloggún, and it is well worth the inflated price one will have to pay for it. Some sell copies for as much as $100, so be prepared.

Fatunmbi, Awó Fá’Lokun. Awó: Ifá and the Theology of Orisha Divination. Bronx, N.Y.: Original Publications, 1992.

While this book is often criticized by orisha priests and priestesses for its innovations on the casting of four cowries in the place of four coconut rinds to read the oracle obí, it is also praised for its detailed metaphysics. A book that brings controversy also brings much thought; I recommend it for its provocative content.

Flores, Ysamur. Santería Garments and Altars. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1994.

This book was written in conjunction with Peña and Roberto J. Evanchuk. It is an exceptionally wonderful overview of the faith’s religious elements. Unlike other books written today that promise to teach the religion by a series of “how-to’s” that read like an esoteric cookbook, this volume instructs the reader about the faith and its orishas by depicting various coronation gowns and suits, along with a variety of celebration and anniversary altars for the orishas. It gives a wonderful feel for the religion and its celebrations. It is a hardback filled with color plates and photographs, and although it is costly and a bit difficult to get, it is well worth the reader’s investment in time and money.

González-Wippler, Migene. Introduction to Seashell Divination. Plainview, N.Y.: Original Publications, 1992.

_____. Legends of Santería. St. Paul, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications, 1994.

_____. Powers of the Orishas. Plainview, N.Y.: Original Publications, 1992.

_____. Rituals and Spells of Santería. Bronx, N.Y.: Original Publications, 1984.

_____. Santería: African Magic in Latin America. Bronx, N.Y.: Original Publications, 1993.

_____. The Santería Experience. St. Paul, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications, 1994.

_____. Santería, the Religion. St. Paul, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications, 1994.

Although many have criticized her for popularizing the magical side of Santería and downplaying the religious elements, González-Wippler has corrected much of this in the later editions of her work, especially those published by Llewellyn Publications. If not for her writings, many of those now in the religion never would have found Santería.

Idowu, E. Bolaji. Olódumare: God in Yoruba Belief. New York: Original Publications, 1995.

This is the best book available about the supreme deity of Yoruba belief; it also sheds light on the original practices that spawned the religion we now practice. It is essential reading for those either in the faith or about to enter it.

Neimark, Philip John. The Sacred Ifá Oracle. New York: HarperCollins, 1995.

_____. The Way of the Orisa. New York: HarperCollins, 1993.

Neimark’s descriptions of the orishas (he spells them orisa) and the attributes are among the best I have read; however, I cannot help but disagree with his conception of Yemayá/ Olokun as being one and the same orisha. Although I am an initiate of Santería, I have met a few African priests in my lifetime and none of them agrees with his conception of “how things are done in Africa.” Yet his book, as a whole, is a wonderful testament of the orishas as seen from the eyes of a newly initiated babalawo.

Popoola, Solagbade. Practical Ifá Divination. New York: Athelia and Henrietta Press, 1997.

This book was originally marketed as volume three of a proposed eighteen-volume set; however, the remaining seventeen books never materialized, at least on the open market. It is a wonderful overview of the composite odu in the family of Eji Ogbe.