Los caminos de Oba Kòso: múltiples facetas de Changó en la producción cultural cubana.

The purpose of this work is to analyze the importance the orisha Changó has on Caribbean idiosyncrasy from a mythical, historical, and cultural point of view. The first chapter provides a historical background of Yorubaland and the process by which this belief system crossed the Atlantic during the slave trade migration. The second focuses on research methodology, particularly concepts such as myth, the notion of the unknown, the known, and the necessary exploratory paths that transform the former into the latter. The third chapter will discuss one of the deity’s most prominent features: his hyper masculinity. As one of the main topics of the Cuban dramaturgy of the 60’s, the male character in plays such as Réquiem por Yarini and Maria Antonia will be analyzed by focusing on the set of values and behaviors that define what “being a man” is, and how those literary works reflect what the God of Thunder means in this context as part of Caribbean thought. The fourth chapter revolves around the transmigration of the soul after death. It is an innovative view on Shangó de Ima; a play where Changó appears as a humanized version of himself. Lastly, chapter five explores Yoruba oral traditions through the analysis of the compilation El mundo de los orishas. In this text, Changó will be seen as the personification of moral codes for believers around the world.

Embargo status: Restricted until 06/2022. To request the author grant access, click on the PDF link to the left.