Lydia Cabrera Knihy

The book serves as a bilingual dictionary detailing the vocabulary used by the Congo people, emphasizing terms with special significance in Santería, an Afro-Cuban religion. It explores the cultural and spiritual context of these words, providing insights into their meanings and usage within the religious practices of the Congo community. This resource is valuable for those interested in the intersection of language and spirituality in Afro-Cuban traditions.

First published in Cuba in 1954 and appearing here in English for the first time, Lydia Cabrera's El Monte is a foundational and iconic study of Afro- Cuban religious and cultural tradition that is essential for scholars, activists, and practitioners alike.

The book explores the significance of Abakuá societies formed by enslaved Africans in Cuba during the early 1800s, focusing on their cultural practices and contributions to Cuban identity, including rumba music. It features Lydia Cabrera's groundbreaking phrasebook, the largest work on any African diaspora community in the Americas, now translated into English. The text includes detailed commentaries linking phrases to mythic rites and ritual performances, alongside illustrations and a new introduction, enriching the understanding of this vital aspect of Cuban heritage.

Exploring Afro-Cuban religious and cultural traditions, this foundational work draws from conversations with elderly priests linked to the transatlantic slave trade. The author weaves together ethnography, history, folklore, and botany to portray the rich influence of Afro-Atlantic cultures in Cuba, emphasizing the spiritual and medicinal significance of the monte (forest). With discussions of herbs and deities, it serves as a comprehensive guide to Afro-Cuban spirituality. This edition includes a new foreword and translator notes, solidifying its importance for scholars and practitioners alike.

Lydia Cabrera erzählt in ihren Geschichten, die sie als Kind und junge Frau hörte, von der karibischen Welt, in der Menschen- und Tierwelt verschwimmen. Ihre amoralischen Erzählungen sind voller Lebensfreude, Humor und spöttischer Kritik an menschlichen Schwächen, ohne sich um moralische Belehrung zu kümmern.