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A

FRICAN

R

ELIGION IN THE

A

MERICAS

| T

ERRANCE

G

RAHAM

Terrance Graham is a graduating senior planning an academic career. He intends to do his doctoral

work in Religious Studies, specializing in religions of the African diaspora. In this essay, he gives an

overview of the religious and cultural factors that led to the development of Santeria in the Caribbean.

He points out that it is a syncretism of Yoruba (Nigerian) and Catholic traditions. Moreover, it resulted

from a need to hide Yoruba beliefs and practices under a veneer of Christianity during times of oppres 

sion by slave owners. He argues that knowledge of the African heritage behind Santeria and other Afro 

Caribbean religions might serve as a point of pride for African Americans attempting to recover their

history.

Lori Rowlett

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies

After the appropriation of the Americas by Europeans, many new ideas and ways of believing

emerged.  Upon contact with the natives of the land, the travelers believed these peoples to be cultur 

African Religion in the Americas     Terrance Graham

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