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Glossary

The words most commonly used, both Spanish and in Yoruba (the religious language in Santería, preserved from the time of the slaves and still in use in parts of Nigeria), will be explained here. They are marked in the text in italics.

Table of Contents

Babalawo

Padre de los secretos, the father of secrets. Priest in Ifá, the supreme step in Santería, a position held by men only. The babalawo is the one who can sacrifice animals and who can predict the future through his communication with Orula, the god of divinations.

Hacerse santo

Means to "make oneself santo" or to be born into the religion, and is the actual initiation into the religion. Initiation takes place during a week-long stay in a room where the person to be initiated is symbolically reborn and receives the santo over his head. After this, the initiate becomes a santera (if a woman) or a santero (if a man), and can begin to work in the religion.

Iyawó(se)

Novice. This is a person who has been initiated into Santería in the course of the last year. They can be identified by their white garments, which they must wear for a whole year after initiation. In addition they are subjected to a number of restrictions.

Madrina

Godmother. The santera (female initiate) who accompanies you through the initiation ritual and who will later guide you in religious issues. See padrino, the male counterpart.

Obbá

Sacrificial priest. The obbá may, like the babalawo, sacrifice animals.

Oricha/Ocha

Deity. Oricha is the African name for santo, in other words deity in the Santería pantheon. Santo is, incidentally, the most commonly used name among the believers, even though they are often referred to as orichas in written texts. Santo is the Spanish word for a Catholic saint. The term regla de Ocha, which is another term for Santería, is derived from the word orisha.

Padrino

Godfather. The santero (male initiate) who accompanies you through the initiation ritual and who will later guide you in religious issues. See madrina, the female counterpart.

Santera/santero

Woman/man who has been initiated. They have undergone the hacerse santo ritual and can therefore work in the religion and initiate others, in other words become madrina (godmother) or padrino (godfather).