- Title: Cuba's Santeria priests forecast prosperity in New Year's prophesy
- Date: 3rd January 2017
- Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (JANUARY 3, 2017) (REUTERS) SANTERIA PRIESTS, KNOWN AS BABALAWOS, ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE TO GIVE 2017 PREDICTIONS SENIOR BABALAWO BEBO PADRON AND SANTERIA PRIESTS HOLDING UP HANDS IN UNISON AT NEWS CONFERENCE PADRON SHAKING HANDS AND TALKING TO BABALAWO VARIOUS OF SANTERIA PRIESTS, READING LETTER OF THE YEAR GENERAL OF NEWS CONFERENCE WITH CUBAN BABALAWOS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRIEST LAZARO CUESTA, SAYING: "As a babalawo I see that the regent sign is magnificent, because "Baba Egiobe" (sign of the year) says that the doors of the temple of life were opened so that happiness would reach the earth. This sign forecasts a favourable development from the point of view of economic management and Oggun, the regent Osha (reigning saint), will provide his machetes to cut down the plants that prevent each other from communicating." YOUNG SANTERIA PRIEST LISTENING TO NEWS CONFERENCE SHEET OF PAPER WITH LETTER OF THE YEAR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SENIOR BABALAWO BEBO PADRON, SAYING: "The precepts of that letter is in the first place, union, unification, that this society and all its members in my name are asking that for Cuba." GENERAL OF NEWS CONFERENCE WITH BABALAWOS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRIEST LAZARO CUESTA, SAYING: "Independently of the instability anyone might feel, of the political happenings in the world, the letter of the year gives the Cuban people, and the world, hope. If we are capable of hearing, expressing, understanding, contributing, the results without doubt will arrive." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AT VENUE HOPING TO RECEIVE LETTER OF THE YEAR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SANTERIA FOLLOWER, DAYSI FRAGA, SAYING: "We ask that we do not have so many accidents. We ask this for the whole world, the whole world, that the war may end, everything to be over and that is said on this sheet of paper." SHEET OF PAPER STUCK ON DOOR WITH PREDICTIONS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE READING LETTER OF THE YEAR AND TAKING PICTURES
- Embargoed: 18th January 2017 21:32
- Keywords: Cuba predictions Santeria 2017
- Location: HAVANA, CUBA
- City: HAVANA, CUBA
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XJ11DV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Priests from Cuba's Afro-Cuban religion forecast a prosperous 2017 in their New Year's prophecy and told Cubans to be hopeful despite the economic and diplomatic headwinds the Caribbean island-nation faces.
The ritual-filled Santeria religion, which fuses ancient African beliefs brought to Cuba by slaves with Catholicism, is practised by millions of Cubans, many of whom eagerly await for guidance from its annual forecast.
Babalawo priest Lazaro Cuesta, clad in white as a symbol of purity, told a news conference in Havana on Tuesday (January 3), that the reigning Yoruba deity Oggun, god of iron, tools and weapons, would use his machetes to cut down the plants preventing communication.
"As a babalawo I see that the regent sign is magnificent, because "Baba Egiobe" (sign of the year) says that the doors of the temple of life were opened so that happiness would reach the earth. This sign forecasts a favourable development from the point of view of economic management and Oggun, the regent Osha (regent sign), will provide his machetes to cut down the plants that prevent each other from communicating," Cuesta said.
That forecast contrasted with President Raul Castro's gloomy depiction of the economy last week. He told the National Assembly that Cuba entered a recession last year in tandem with the crisis in Venezuela, a key ally, although the economy might eke out growth in 2017.
It also flew in the face of darker prophecies in recent years. The Santeria priests, known as babalawos, had predicted an explosion in migration and social unrest in 2015 and 2016.
Senior babalawo Bebo Padron said this year's prophecy called for Cubans to unite, possibly a reference to opposition to the country's government and those who have emigrated.
"The precepts of that letter is in the first place, union, unification, that this society and all its members in my name are asking that for Cuba," said Padron.
Asked about the future of U.S.-Cuban relations given U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat to end the fledgling detente, Cuesta used an image to suggest both sides would continue to negotiate.
"Independently of the instability anyone might feel, of the political happenings in the world, the letter of the year gives the Cuban people, and the world, hope. If we are capable of hearing, expressing, understanding, contributing, the results without doubt will arrive," Cuesta said.
The babalawos recommended Santeria devotees wear white, avoid the excessive consumption of alcohol, and pay attention to possible acts of corruption.
They advised followers to protect coastal areas from waste and to encourage economic and sociocultural exchanges between countries.
Santeria follower, Daysi Fraga, asked for a reduction in accidents around the world.
"We ask that we do not have so many accidents. We ask this for the whole world, the whole world, that the war may end, everything to be over and that is said on this sheet of paper," she said.
Two of the six slogans for 2017 chosen by the faith were "Only one king governs a people" and "no hat can be more famous than a crown."
Santeria followers have believed their gods were on the side of the Cuban revolution ever since a white dove landed on the shoulder of late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro during a victory speech in Havana. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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