Summer Session: June 21 - July 05, 1999 (early return available June 28) Matanzas, Cienfuegos Ciego de Avila, Las Tunas, Santiago, Guantanamo

Winter Session: January 03 - 17, 2000 (early return available January 10) Matanzas, Jovellanos, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Havana, Pinar del Rio

An overview of AfroCuban Religion, Culture, History and the Arts, focusing on the contemporary cultures of Cuba's central and western (winter session) / eastern (summer session) regions. Included are personal interviews with believers of various religious traditions including Santeria, Palo Monte, Spiritism, Vodou, and expressions of these beliefs in everyday lives, art and music. There will be public an4~private ceremonies, lectures, visits to artists galleries and studios, temple houses, and meetings with community leaders.

Areas of study include Cuban- Yoruba, Cuban-Kongo, Cuban-Haitian and Cuban- West Indian traditions. Emphasis will be placed upon the differences that give each belief and community its unique voice, and the traditional symbiotic relationships of ritual, music, dance and art. In Santiago (summers session), participants may draw upon their experiences during discussion of papers presented at the African Religions Conference (attendance optional). In Havana (winter session) Realities of Santeria Conference at Casa de las Americas. Although of 14 days duration, special arrangements', have been made for a return flight after 7 days for those unable to attend all the activities. Itineraries are subject to adjustment based on local conditions at time of travel.

Central and Eastern Cuba

Beginning in Matanzas (two nights), an important port city and an area rich in African tradition we will travel to Jovellanos an 18th century palenque (refuge for self-liberated slaves). Here we visit with an extended family of Arará heritage who follow Regla de Ocha. In transit we will visit a modest ceramics studio and meet with the artist.

Cienfuegos (one night). In nearby villages participants will continue the exploration of the AfroCuban religion created in the island by peoples associated with the Lucumi tradition of the African Atlantic slave trade. Creation of this religion was influenced by 18th century Catalonia Catholicism. We will visit a Cabildo, the social community organization permitted by Spanish slavery but transformed by Afrocuban slaves using west African identity understandings of "nation". This particular Cabildo honors Shango/Santa Barbara and was founded in 1894.

Travelling to Moron (three Rights) we stop in Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage City, and one of the seven founding cities of Cuba. Here we will visit the historical museums and the Kongo Cabildo de Congos Reales originally founded in 1787. We will attend a private dance and percussion demonstration. We have requested to visit the burial "cave" of the last king of the cabildo who was buried in 1923 with his drums. We will visit an English speaking community that protects and celebrates its West Indies traditions, including cricket and maypole dances. Their immigration to Cuba was part of the fruit and sugar agricultural development of the early 2Oth century. There are several such communities in Cuba. We will explore how humans resist external cultural influences by use of language, music, dance, religion, and other cultural mechanisms. Later we will visit with members of a Cuban Haitian community. The road access to the village is modest. If there have been recent rains it may not be possible to travel by bus and other basic transportation such as an open truck may be required. In Las Tunas (two nights) we will see the strong influence of Haitian Vodou, we have been invited by two traditional Cuban-Haitian families to visit with them and share in presentations of music and ritual. We will discuss the differences between folklore and ritual, public performance and religious expression. We will also for the first time begin to see the influences of French 19th century Spiritism. Participants will visit with non-syncretised spiritists in the Spirit House. In addition we will meet with two religious leaders of the AfroCuban religious tradition of Lucumi - also known as Santeria. One, the Oriate, is the leader who knows proper rites and ceremonies associated with the tradition; the other, a Babalaou, is the leader who has knowledge to translate sacred messages and information. An area scholar and community member will present a paper "The Caribbean Presence in LAS Tunas".

Bayamo (one night) is an important center for Spiritismo in Cuba. We have been invited to attend a service at a center of Cordon Spiritismo. We will approach the Spirit House on foot (about a 30-minute walk along a dirt road), as does every other member. The Community has offered to assist anyone who is unwell with a cleansing.

Manzanillo (one night). This is a hiking and beach day. We will be accompanied by archaeologists as we hike in to visit the El Guafe archeological site and pre-contact caves of the Taino people. The caves have not been "developed" and entry into some of the chambers is somewhat difficult however the pictographs and glyph make the visit worthwhile. Box lunches will be provided, wear appropriate shoes and hiking clothes. During the remainder of the afternoon those who wish may enjoy the beach and explore the fishing village at Cabo Cruz. Guantanamo (one night), where we will experience the influence of Caribbean immigrations on Cuba. We will have a professional symposium with the British West Indian Centre about "African Presence in the Americas^9t attend a musical exchange at the Son Association including clarification of Changui and other musical genres and visit with a Palero at his temple house.

Santiago de Cuba (3 nights). On our first evening there will be an optional conversation group concerning the African Religions Workshop and a performance by the Cutumba Folklore Ensemble. Although some time will be unscheduled to facilitate participation in the Fiesta del Fuego Festival our structured program will include: a shuttle to the main square with free time to encounter old town Santiago on your own... OR optional attendance at the African Religions Workshop on your own, view the inaugural parade, travel to the village of Cobre to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Caridad and a temple house which will have elements of the three major African-derived or influenced traditions in Cuba; Palo Monte, Lucumi (Santeria) and Spiritismo... OR... optional attendance on your own at the African Religions Workshop. Attendance at a gala performance of the Festival.

Note: The Fiesta del Fuego, taking place throughout our stay is a 24 hour a day bacchanal with street parties and celebrations in the spirit of ⁰CARNIVAL⁰. There are more than 100 groups of performers in theaters and on the streets throughout the city. During the days and night of the festival, the city of Santiago becomes the capital of the Caribbean.

Central and Western Cuba

Beginning in Matanzas (four nights), an important port city and an area rich in African tradition we will travel. to Jovellanos an 18th century palenque (refuge for self-liberated slaves). Here we visit with an extended family of Arará heritage who follow Regla de Ocha. In nearby villages participants will continue the exploration of the AfroCuban religion created in the island by peoples associated with the Lucumi tradition of the African Atlantic slave trade. In transit we will visit a modest ceramics studio and meet with the artist. We are invited to private performances on different evenings by the Muñequitos de Matanzas and Afrocuba Folkloric Ensembles and will attend a reception with regional artists at their studios. Travelling to Cardenas we meet with members of Columbia del Puerto, rumberos of the Yoruba tradition and visit the town 6f Triumvirato, and the ruins of the plantation from which Jeremina led an important slave rebellion. An -

scholar will present a paper titled "Cuban Religions of African Origin".

Trinidad (two nights), a UNESCO World Heritage City, and one of the seven founding cities of Cuba. In Trinidad we will visit the historical museums and the Kongo Cabildo de Congos Reales originally founded in 1787. Cabildos are the social community organizations permitted by Spanish slavery but transformed by Afrocuban slaves using west African identity understandings of "nation". We will attend a private dance and percussion demonstration. We have requested to visit the burial "cave" of the last king of the cabildo who was buried in 1923 with his drums. Trinidad's early wealth came from the sugar estates established during the 17th century on the rolling land in the nearby "Valley of the Sugar Mills". This area is the largest industrial archeological site in the Caribbean. We will explore tile valley and visit a restored 18th century sugar estate with an area archeologist. A Cuban scholar will present a paper "Ba Kongo Belief Systems (Palo Monte) in Cuba".

Havana (three nights + final 3 nights), in transit we will stop in a small village and visit a Cabildo that honors Shango/Santa Barbara and was founded in 1894. Havana became capital of Cuba in 1589 (Santiago de Cuba was the first capital from 1514). We will travel to the town of Regla, where the church associated with Yemella is located before visiting with a community of Yoruba heritage to share in presentations of music and ritual. In the Cerro district we will meet with a Palero and visit botanicas and learn about plants and herbs and their uses in ritual and medicine. We will have a professional symposium with the Yoruba Association of Cuba about "Regla de Ocha in Cuba" and attend a musical exchange at Casa de Africa where will discuss the differences between folklore and ritual, public performance and religious expression. In the town of Guanabacoa we will visit with a Babalaou at his temple house for a clarification of two fundamental methods of divination. We will also see for the first time begin to see and learn about the Abakuá societies through encounters, interviews and presentations of dance and ritual and attend a "Realities of Cuban Santeria Conference" at Casa de LAS Americas.

Pinar del Rio (two nights) is the capital of Cuba's most western province of the same name. Travelling west we climb up into the San Rosario Mountains were we will visit with members of an agricultural cooperative and hike through a section of World Biosphere Preserve with a representative of the Ministry of Science and the Environment. In these relatively isolated villages we will explore Toque Yuka and Toque Kinfuiti, both of these toque de tambor are unique in Cuba.

The Eleggua Project seeks to provide knowledgeable persons to assist delegates in their "exploration" of Cuba. The academic advisors listed for each program have years of Cuban experience and have devoted hundreds of volunteer hours to developing itineraries and contacts for these programs. In many cases the advisors even accompany the delegations as part of their ongoing research programs. When it is not possible for the advisors to join a particular delegation, the Project utilizes the skills and knowledge of other North American and Cuban specialists as program advisors. These include; Juan Mesa-Casa de las Americas, Nalalia Bolivar-Author, Jorge Luís Hernandez-Casa del Caribe, Bernardo Garcia-York University, JoseBarreiro-Cornell University, Jualynne Dodson-University of Colorado, Jim Lepore-George Mason University, Robert Barnett-Royal Ontario Museum.

FEES INCLUDE: Round trip airfare to/from Matanzas or Santiago with departures from Toronto (direct flight), Cancun (arrival Havana with connection to Matanzas - due to undependable flight schedules forced delays and overnights in Havana in~out may be required at additional cost), 14 nights accommodation double occupancy in air-conditioned rooms with private bath, breakfast and dinner daily, workshop and lecture series registration fees, performance event fees, translators, guides₇ ground transportation by modern air-conditioned bus between airports/hotels/workshop sessions/visits, Cuban visa.

FEES

Winter Session $1600 USD Summer Session $1650 USD

(For single room add $140 per week, + $50 for gifts to communities with whom we will be interacting. Delegates accepted for the program will be advised on what other materials, i.e., paper, pens, medicines may also make appropriate small gifts)

FEE REDUCTIONS

Attend for one week, reduce price by $400

Make your own air travel arrangements, join workshop in Matanzas and leave in Havana, reduce price by $300

Alumni discount. If you have attended a previous Eleggua workshop, reduce price by $50 per week

Field Studies Coordinator, Eleggua Project
7171 Toibram Road, Suite 51
Mississauga (Toronto), Ontario, CANADA MT 3W4
TEL: 800-818-8840 FAX: 905-678-1421
E-mail: cancuba®pathcom.com