The legacy of Ortiz’s Yorubization of Lucumí

The contemporary retranslation and circulation of Lucumí songs for the orishas (deities) among devotees scholars in Cuba inadvertently reproduces both sources methods Ortiz’s earliest linguistic ventures reinforces his enduring influence on popular understandings Santería’s utterances. This article draws research 2018 partnership with a Nigerian priestess, which revealed processes, aspirations, mixed results song translation efforts. As many Cuban priests granted her religious authority largely basis Yoruba language knowledge, hierarchies themselves within changing global setting. While theory transculturation recognized agency subaltern groups stimulating cultural change, this demonstrates that is an intrinsically asymmetrical intercultural communication. processes Nigerian-Cuban priestly encounters resemble philological speculations, yet may also engender change sustained influence.