Sacred Language of the Abakuá

More about the book

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.