Suggested CDs

Bata y Bembe de Matanzas I: la presentación de un Iyawo de Chango
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The most incredible CD to come out of modern Matanzas!

Ritmos Cubafricanos Volume 1
Ballet Folklórico Cutumba / Academy of Cuban Folklore & Dance
Ritmos Cubafricanos began as an informal project initiated by the Academy of Cuban Folklore and Dance in Seattle, Washington, of Afro-Franco-Haitian-Cuban origin found primarily in Cuba’s Eastern (Oriente) provinces.
Own it today for only $17.95 (+$5.65 S&H)

Ritmos Cubafricanos Volume 2
Ballet Folklórico Cutumba / Academy of Cuban Folklore & Dance
Ritmos Cubafricanos began as an informal project initiated by the Academy of Cuban Folklore and Dance in Seattle, Washington, of Afro-Franco-Haitian-Cuban origin found primarily in Cuba’s Eastern (Oriente) provinces..
Own it today for only $17.95 (+$5.65 S&H)

Grupo Folklorico Olufina Baba Mi.
Afro Yoruba Music of the New Land. $12.99 (+$5.65 S&H)

As part of our effort to promote valuable information for the serious students and devotees, Eleda.Org has linked up with Amazon.com. Eleda.Org recommends the following CDs and DVDs, provides links through Amazon.com for those who may be interested in purchasing them.

Como parte de nuestro esfuerzo para promover información valiosa para los estudiantes y devotos serios, Eleda.Org se ha asociado con Amazon.Com. Eleda.Org recomienda los siguientes CDs y DVDs, y proveemos conectos para aquellos que desen comprarlos.

Tambor For Obatalá
Music of Santería. A Live Afro-Cuban Ceremony
This is a live recording in Cuba of a Tambor for Obatalá, an Afro-Cuban ceremony in which the sacred batá drums are used. This ceremony is for Obatalá, the creator of humans and King of the Orishas. He is also associated with purity, justice, and intelligence. The oru seco is the first part of the ceremony that honors the orishas through the speaking of the batá. Once again, the orishas are honored (or saluted) through the songs of the oru cantado. Afterwards, Obatalá and others are evoked through song and dance. Available as a single CD, almost 80 minutes of the highlights, or as a three CD set of the entire ceremony. 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Echun Okiry Güiro for Elegguá
Recorded in Havana, this is a Santería ceremony to honor and evoke Elegguá. Elegguá is known as a multisided trickster and gatekeeper. A ‘güiro’, which refers to the shaker instrument also refers to the ceremony and style of music. These events occur frequently in Havana using güiros (also refered to as abwes and chekeres), a conga and a bell (usually played on a hoe blade call ‘guataca’). This type of ceremony is very similar to what some call a ‘bembe’. This CD is over 79 minutes long and covers the most important aspects of this event.
Music of Santería, Live Ceremonial Afro-Cuban Music

Religious Music of Palo Monte
A Cajón Ceremony. Live Afro-Cuban Music
This is a recording from a Palo Monte ceremony in Havana. Palo Monte is one of the many Afro-Cuban religions. The music on this CD is played on ‘cajón’. This term describes the wooden box that is played as well as the ceremony. A bell, songs, and chants complete the music. 44 minutes and 29 seconds.

Güiro for Ochun and Yemaya
Recorded in Havana, this is a Santería ceremony to honor and evoke Ochun and Yemaya. Ochún is the goddess of love and Yemayá, the goddess of the oceans and mother of all the orishas. This was an authentic Santería ceremony and was not simulated. The event on this CD would have occured even if it was not being recorded. We offer this in an edited 1 CD version or a 2 CD set of the complete ceremony.

Religious Music of Lukumi, Abakua, and Arara
Recorded live in Havana
This is a three CD box set, the late great Andrés Chacón plays Lukumi, Abakua and Arara styles with his group Iré Iré. Recorded live at his home in La Havana, Cuba 2001. A bilingual (English & Spanish) 28 page full color booklet with notes, interviews (with Andrés Chacón) and photos is included! Several of the major traditions performed by the “school” of Andrés are found on this CD, giving listeners a rare glimpse into living spiritual traditions with direct links to Mother Africa.

Lukumi: Afro-Cuban Devotional Music
Recorded in Havana, Cuba
The music on this CD was recorded in Pogoloti, Havana, Cuba during April of 2000 at the home of Andres Chacon. Andres, age 74 (during the time of recording), maintains a family tradition that can be traced directly through the generations to the days of slavery. Andres and his group play batá, a family of three hourglass shaped double headed drums that are used for ceremonial purposes. All three drums work together with song, dance, and intention to communicate with the Orishas (Yoruban deities).

Folkloric Afro-Cuban Music
Recorded in Havana, Cuba
Grupo Cuero y Cajón is a group of Cuban musicians who perform regularly at religious festivities in and around the area of Marianao (a “suburb” of Havana). The players are from a neighborhood in Marianao called Pogolotti which, on any given day, could have numerous religious or semi-religious “actividades” going on.The group plays folkloric Afro-Cuban music based, in part, on traditional rhythms from the Bantu people of Africa. The songs that accompany these rhythms are usually called “Plegarias” or “Espirituales” (Spirituals) and are often used in ceremonies to honor deceased ancestors (Egun). Although much of the group’s repertoire is traditional, their musical knowledge, instrumentation, and personal style all contribute to a very unique sound.

Moforibale to the Orishas
Recorded in Puerto Rico in high quality. This is an Afro-Cuban/Santeria güiro to give Moforibale to the orishas. The goal of the group is to capture the essence of the African songs to delight and call the Orishas down to earth. The Group Ojajara Egüe is a family group. It consists of 11 members. They are the first group to record a güiro of Santeria in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico events occur frequently using Güiro also referred to as (chekeres), a conga and Bell (guataca). This ceremony is also called a “Bembe.”

Sacred Sounds of Santería Rhythms of the Orishas
Recorded in Cuba
Practicioners of the Afro-Cuban religion Santería believe that powerful spirit forces–orishas–provide guidance and inspiration channeled in the form of song. Listening intently makes one’s soul vibrate at the same frequency of the orisha being praised, creating a bridge between God and humankind that releases the orisha’s healing power. Sacred Sounds of Santería includes extremely rare and powerful field recordings made in the hinterlands of Cuba in the 1950s during actual Santería rituals, along with studio recorded songs that feature 40 of the most gifted soloists, choral singers, and drummers on the island.

Sacred Sounds of Female Orishas
Collected by Raul Canizares
This unique offering of Santería contains praise songs to the different aspects of the Goddess in the form of Oyá, Yemayá, Oshún, Yewa, and Obba. Collected and presented by Raul Canizares (1955-2002), who was head of the Santería Temple Orisha Consciousness Movement in Manhattan and the author of Santería Cubana and Shango: An African-American Titan, the CD presents songs, chants, and drumming that evoke the powers of these female orishas.

Tumba Francesca Afro-Cuban Music From the Roots
Recorded in Cuba
Tumba Francesa la Caridad de Oriente is a 140-year old institution in Cuba. The music of Tumba Francesa is a unique combination of African drums and French patois vocals alive in Cuba today. This is the first in a series of albums reflecting Afro-Cuban culture newly recorded by Soul Jazz Records in Cuba. In the 19th century there were hundreds of Tumba Francesa throughout Cuba. Now only two remain; Tumba Francesa of Santiago de Oriente and nearby Tumba Francesa de Guantanamo. Originally mutual aid societies for the ex-slaves who fled the neighbouring Haitian Revolution, Tumba Francesas would put on elaborate shows during carnival dressed in ballroom costumes of 18th century France playing purely African music. Tumba Francesa La Caridad de Oriente continue this tradition today. The music of Tumba Francesa la Caridad de Oriente is at once both modern and traditional, both an important aspect of contemporary Cuba and coming with a vast cultural legacy.The CD comes complete with extensive sleevenotes and spoken introduction by the Afro-Cuban poet and writer Pedro Perez-Sarduy and photography by the New York writer, musician and broadcaster Ned Sublette.