> "santera teaches the existence of a transcendent creator divinity, olodumare, under whom are spirits known as oricha. these oricha are equated with roman catholic saints and associated with various myths." > "practitioners venerate the oricha at altars, either in the home or in the il (house-temple), which is run by a santero (priest) or santera (priestess)." > "animal sacrifice, offerings, and divination are central practices, alongside a strong emphasis on ancestor veneration." the yoruba cultural framework, especially when integrated with diasporic practices like santeria, offers a profound lens to examine legal and cultural intersections in the context of cases like church of the lukumi babalu aye v. city of hialeah (1993) and trump v. hawaii (2018). the yoruba diaspora, stemming from the transatlantic slave trade, has preserved its religious traditions through adaptations like santeria, particularly in places like florida. santeria, rooted in yoruba orisha worship, incorporates catholic iconography and practices due to colonial and postcolonial constraints, reflecting resilience in preserving cultural identity under oppression. this resonates with the yoruba emphasis on community, ritual, and spiritual interconnection.
United States