PALO: AFRICAN RITUAL IN CUBA

Cuba, 2009

The Palo religion (Reglas de Congo) is a syncretic religion which developed amongst the black slaves brought to Cuba from Congo (Africa) during the colonial period. Palo, having its roots in spiritual concepts of the indigenous people in Africa, worships the spirits and natural powers but can often give them faces and names known from the Christian dogma. According to Palo, some spirits may reside in altars (vessels filled up by magical objects) and those are asked for a help during the lithurgy. The Palo ceremony is led by a priest and consists of singing, dancing, drumming and sometimes an animal sacrifice. The Palo magic rituals can work for both – good and ill, depending on the intention and motivation of Palero. Although there have been strong religious restrictions during the decades of the Cuban Revolution, the majority of Cubans still consult their problems with practitioners of some Afro Cuban religion.

Photography by Jan Sochor

A young Cuban man, wearing a red blindfold, passes a secret initiation ritual of the Palo Monte religion in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba..

A Cuban woman sells natural objects (shells, plants, feathers,…) considered as magic elements in the Palo religion, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man, the Palo religion priest, sits in his home temple and prepares himself for a ritual, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man sets up the fire, required for a Palo religion ceremony, on the backyard of his house in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man, the Palo religion follower, draws a magical symbol on the floor of the temple in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. The symbol is the key element to release the spiritual powers linked to the altars..

A Cuban man prepares a goat for a sacrifice, drawing a spiritual symbols on its horns, within the Palo religion ritual in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

A Cuban man, the Palo Monte priest, wearing a typical red and white bracelet, looks out of the window in Havana, Cuba.

Religious symbols and mythological signs belonging to the Afro-Cuban tradition drawn on the wall of the African Culture Heritage Centre in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man, the Palo religion priest, cuts the throat of a goat during the sacrifice ritual in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

The Palo altar (la prenda, or el caldero), a vessel filled up by magical objects, placed on the floor of a house in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

A Cuban woman consults her health problem with a fortune teller, practitioner of a Afro-Cuban religion, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man, the Palo religion follower, holds the Christian cross during the Palo initiation ritual in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

Cuban men, the Afro-Cuban religion belivers, sitting in a passage of the old house in Havana, Cuba.

Afro-Cuban traditional themes, showing colorful dance, spirits and rituals, painted on house walls (murals) in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

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