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Glossary · O
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Okonkolo
u Omele
The smallest of the set of three batá
drums. Also called Omelé.
Oriente
The eastern region of Cuba, more commonly known
as Oriente, has developed and preserved its culture,
standing up to its rival Havana, the distant capital
some thousand kilometers away. This is where the
first clash on Cuban territory took place with
the Spanish conquerors, which had turned Santiago
de Cuba into a harbor base for the arrival of
African slaves. Despite Havana’s securing
first place in importance (it became the natural
stopover for Spaniards traveling on to Mexico
and South America), Santiago and Oriente upheld
intense economic activity during quite a few centuries.
The region prospered with the arrival of thousands
of French colonists and their slaves, which fled
from Santo Domingo where an anti slave and anti
colonist revolution was taking place. With the
addition of the Tainos
and Siboneyes Indians, who managed to survive
the former conquerors, the region is considered
a rich and unique mixture of races with multiple
traditions, combining the Spanish, African, French
and Indian cultures.
Proud of its rebellious traditions and more impregnated
with Africa than Havana is, the Oriente region
has been able to preserve its cultural traditions
and has invented a handful of major musical forms,
among them the son
and the bolero.
Orisha
Deities of the santería
religion.
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