Arará facts for kids

The Arará people are a special group in Cuba. They are descendants of people from the Dahomey kingdom in West Africa. They have kept their own unique identity, religion, and culture. This makes them different from other Afro-Cuban groups. Over time, it has become harder to keep this separate identity. But the Arará people have always worked hard to protect their heritage.

History of the Arará People

Where the Arará Came From

The Arará people were first taken as slaves during wars in West Africa. This happened when the Oyo Empire attacked the Dahomey kingdom. Years later, they were brought to Cuba. After this, other slaves from the Oyo Empire also arrived in Cuba.

Because of old disagreements in West Africa, these two groups stayed apart. They developed their own separate cultures and ways of life. Even though their religious practices were similar, each group had its own religious leaders. It was not until the early 1900s that Arará and Yoruba Cubans started to mix their cultures.

How Arará Culture Changed

Today, many Arará traditions have blended with other Afro-Cuban traditions. It has become harder to keep a strong Arará identity. Over time, different traditions and people have mixed together. This has led to more cultural sharing among Afro-Cuban groups. This is especially true in religious practices.

Arará Religion

The Arará religion is a unique faith that started in Cuba. Its roots come from the Ewe and Fon people of Dahomey. They worship many gods called "luases." These are similar to the Loa in Vodou. Many of these gods were borrowed from Yoruba gods. Some small rituals from the Kongo faith are also practiced. This religion was once very popular in Matanzas and Santiago de Cuba.

Even though Arará worships Vodou gods instead of Yoruba gods, it has mixed with Santeria practices. Santeria words and customs have become part of Arará practices. However, the music and dance in Arará ceremonies are still very different from Santeria ceremonies. This helps keep the two religions separate.

Around the 1890s or early 1900s, Santeria and Arará religions began to mix. This led to Arará adopting some Santeria customs for guiding their ceremonies. Today, many people who practice Arará use Yoruba words to explain their beliefs. But they still use their own special ceremonial dances. Some of these dances look similar to dances in Haitian Vodou. This is because both religions share some history. However, the dances are still different.

See also

In Spanish: Arará para niños

• Haitian Vodou drumming