3/3/2026 - Week 8 / Meeting 15: Afro-Moves / Dances of the Orishas

 

 

 Unit: Afro-Moves

Theme:  Dances of the Orishas

 

 I

 

 

 Introduction

Cultural retention, such as the dances of the orishas, is the act of retaining the culture of a specific ethnic group of people, especially when there is reason to believe that the culture, through inaction, may be lost. Many African-American cultures experience cultural retention as a result of the influx of Africans into the Americas during the slave trade. The largest group brought to Cuba, for instance, was the Bantu (colloquially referred to as Palo Monte, or the rule of Congo), then the Yoruba (colloquially referred to as Lukumi). While the Bantu imported the "rule of palo (stick) Mayombe, the Yoruba brought the "rule of Ocha-Ifa and Lukumi." Regla de Ochá (Santería) is a religion with a rich history, a history that began in slave quarters and now thrives in black and non-black communities.

II

Learning Objectives 

  • Understand the concept of cultural retention
  • Explain how it applies to African Dances such as the Orishas'.
  • Gather an awareness of the characteristic movements of Orisha dances
  • Experience the composition of Afro-Moves based on the explored Orisha dances.

    •  III

    Main Lesson

     

    1

    African Rythm

     

    There is no movement without rhythm.

    Link:  https://youtu.be/lVPLIuBy9CY

    In this video rhythm is shown as part of a way of life. Rhythm is present in every aspect of African ancestral living culture. When that changes and industrial society takes over, one can assume that rhythm no longer belongs to the people's culture. This documentary expresses the determination for rhythm to remain a part of African life no matter what.


    Question 1

    What does the expression "there is no movement without rhythm" mean within the context of African dance? 

     


     

     
    III
     
    Main Lesson
     
    1 
     
    Chants to the Orishas
     
    Chant to Eleggua / Sexto Sentido
     

     
    Chant to Oggun . Lazaro Ros
     

     3
     
    Chant to Oshun / Sintesis
     

     
    4
     
    Chant to Yemaya / Obba de Melli
     

     5
    Chant to Oya / Baobab


    6

    Chant to Shango / Ricardo "Sant Cruz" Gomex


    7

    Chat to Babalu-Aye / Ochumare



    8

    Chant to Obatala


    Question 2
     
    The videos above illustrate how these Afro-Cuban (Santeria) chants remain part of the people's living culture.  Why are these retentions important?

     

    3

    Video

     
    Link:
     https://vimeo.com/312332715

    Question 3

    After watching the video:

    Briefly describe the main characteristics of each orisha showcased in the video.

     
    4
     
    (Section # 7, paragraph 3) 

    Question 4
     
    What is Tomas Gonzalez Perez saying? 

     
    IV
     
    A Note to Remember
     
    The African nations that became part of the cultural makeup of our continent as a result of the slave trade brought with them their culture, their gods and their dances.
     
     
     
    V
     
    Case Study

    1


    Conjunto Folklorico Nacional
     
    Question 4
     
    After watching the performance of this company, what would you say gets in the way of the authentic performance of these religious dances when performed for an audience?



     VI

    Activity
     
    Students learn the orisha-dances and then create groups to focus on just an orisha of their choice. 
     
    MUSIC 
     
    Eleggua


    8:30
     
    Oggun
    3:00
     
    Oshun
    3:30
     
    Yemaya
    6:00
     
    Oya
    3:00
     
    Chango
    6:00
     
    Babalu-Aye
    3:00
     
    Obatala
    6:45

    Question 5
     
    Reflect of your experience after dancing the orisha dances.

    VII

    Journaling

     

    VIII

    Glossary

    orisha: The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity.  

    Ire: In the Yoruba religion, both Iré and Osogbo are temporary paths in stages of our life, astral states. The iré blesses us and the osogbo keeps us alert, warning us to be cautious and act shrewdly in the face of a certain negative situation.


    IX

    Sources

    Ala Aggayu, David (2017). Cantos y Traducciones de Oggunhttps://youtu.be/nXJisjHGuhs?si=ezgNd-R7ErecdamL

    Capoeira Circle. Inscribed in 2014 (9.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/capoeira-circle-00892

     

    Morejon, Jorge Luis (n.d.) The Fashion of Rituality.  https://www.academia.edu/31079474/The_Fashion_of_Rituality

    X

    Students' Work 
     

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