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Ted Brathwaite
Orishas are a Cuban hip hop group from Havana, Cuba, founded in 1999. The group was first called "Amenaza",[1] "threat" or "menace" in Spanish, and appealed to the Cuban youth. The choice of this name for the hip hop group is a way of creating a direct link between this band and the African diaspora. The group is based in France where they made a deal with a record company, although they visit Cuba frequently. In 1999 Fidel Castro threw a party for them and had a meeting with all the musicians.[2] It was the first time the Cuban government showed support for hip hop music. The group was and still is popular in Europe (especially France, Italy, Spain and Portugal) and Latin America. Yotuel Romero and Ruzzo Medina, who moved from Havana to Paris as part of an international studies program, joined Roldn Gonzlez and Flaco-Pro to form the band in 1999. Their work is influenced by the hip hop movement as well as Cuban and other Latin rhythms. As of October 2009[update], they had produced a total of five studio albums and a greatest hits album; their latest album is Gourmet (released May 25, 2018). In 2009 they participated in the concert Paz Sin Fronteras II in Plaza de la Revolucin, Havana, Cuba. Orishas reunited to record new material in 2016.
The name "Orishas" refers to the set of deities worshipped in African-based religions in the Americas, like Santera in Cuba and Candombl in Brazil, resulting from the relocation of enslaved Yoruba. These orishas each represent a natural element (such as the ocean or leaves) and exhibit a human characteristic (such as motherhood or love).[3] This link is evident in the group's lyrics, for example those of "Nac Orichas" and "Canto Para Elewa Y Chang". The group's success is a testament to both the international appeal of the group itself as well as the global popularity of Cuban culture.[4] As of October 2009[update], the band consists of three members: Yotuel, Ruzzo and Roldn. Flaco-Pro left the group in 2002 before the release of its second studio album, Emigrante.[5] The band members live in distributed locations in Europe (Roldn in Paris, Ruzzo in Milan, and Yotuel in Madrid). In 2007, they collaborated with Puerto Rican group Calle 13 on the song "Pa'l Norte" (from the album Residente o Visitante). The song won a Latin Grammy for Best Urban Song.
Los Orishas began as Cuban rap group Amenaza in the early 1990s. Led by Joel Pando, Amenaza became the first rap group to address the issue of racial identity in Cuban society.[6] In 1998, the members of Amenaza traveled to Paris to perform and accepted a record deal with a European label.[6] The transition to Europe was critical in their musical career, as many rap groups in Cuba lacked the resources for professional recordings. In fact, of the hundreds of rappers in Cuba, Orishas is the only group that has achieved international acclaim As of 2006[update].[6] Their first album, A Lo Cubano, was released in Spain in May 1999 under the Orishas moniker. In the summer of 1999, Orishas began a two-year tour across Europe and the United States, which brought them international notice. In December 2000, Orishas returned to Cuba to perform two concerts, attracting tens-of-thousands of young Cubans.[7]
As one of Cuba's pioneer rap groups, Orishas garnered fame both at home and abroad. In 2006 they guested on the Track "14Me" recorded in Cuba by occasional The Black Eyed Peas producer Poet Name Life. The track was eventually released on the album "The Revolution Presents: Revolution", (Studio !K7 & Rapster Records) a Cuban dance crossover album which also featured Norman Cook a.k.a. Fatboy Slim, Risn Murphy and Rich File from UK Trip Hop pioneers Unkle. As of October 2009[update], the members of the trio currently live in different European cities (Madrid, Milan, Paris), with the band based in France.[8] Their incorporation of traditional Cuban beats like salsa and rumba into their rapping is an angle that brings appeal to older Cubans, while simultaneously driving some aspiring Cuban rappers to "look at them with both awe and disappointment" for "selling out to commercial pressures to evoke Cuban nostalgia."[9] Roldan himself has a tendency towards traditional Cuban music, and purposely distances his music from some of the stereotypical characteristics of hip-hop, such as the degrading treatment of women and "everything [else] you do in U.S. hip hop shows".[8]
Orishas um grupo cubano de hip-hop de Havana, Cuba, fundado em 1999, originalmente chamado "Amenaza".[1] Depois de produzir trs lbuns, Orishas vendeu mais de 750 mil exemplares de seus lbuns na Europa e ganhou dois Grammys.[2]. Em 2007 colaboraram com o grupo porto-riquenho Calle 13 na msica "Pa'l Norte" (do lbum Residente o Visitante). A msica ganhou um Grammy Latino pela Melhor Cano Urbana.
Los Orishas comeou como grupo de rap cubano Amenaza no incio dos anos 90. Dirigido por Joel Pando, Amenaza tornou-se o primeiro grupo de rap a abordar a questo da identidade racial na sociedade cubana.[3] Em 1998 o grupo fechou um acordo de gravao com uma empresa europeia. A incorporao de ritmos tradicionais cubanos, como a salsa e a rumba, atrai os cubanos mais velhos, mas para aspirantes a rappers cubanos representa uma cedncia perante presses comerciais para evocar nostalgia.[4] O prprio Roldan tem uma tendncia para a msica tradicional cubana e distingue propositalmente sua msica de algumas das caractersticas estereotipadas do hip-hop, como o tratamento degradante das mulheres e "tudo mais o que voc faz nos shows de hip hop nos EUA".[5]
The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. They recognise themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. In this way we make our offerings in the manner they are accustomed to, in the way they have always received them, so that they will recognise our offerings and come to our aid.
The orishas are often best understood by observing the forces of nature they rule over. For instance, you can learn much about Oshn and her children by watching the rivers and streams she rules over and observing that though she always heads toward her sister Yemay (the Sea) she does so on her own circuitous route. Also observe how the babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. As you observe the orishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will gain a better understanding of them and their ways. Yes, they are complex, but no more so than any other living being such as you or I. We are also blessed from time to time in the religion with the opportunity to meet the orishas face to face during a bemb where one or more of their priests will be mounted (see trance possession).
Elegba (also referred to Eleggua or Eleggu) is the owner of the roads and doors in this world. He is the repository of ash. The colors red and black or white and black are his and codify his contradictory nature. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of the human and the divine, as he is child-like messenger between the two worlds. In this role, it is not surprising that he has a very close relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. Nothing can be done in either world without his permission. Elegba is always propitiated and always called first before any other orisha as he opens the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. He recognises himself and is recognised by the numbers 3 and 21.
Ogn is the god of iron, war and labor. He is the owner of all technology and because this technology shares in his nature, it is almost always used first for war. As Elegba opens the roads, it is Ogn that clears the roads with his machete. He is recognised in the numbers 7 and the colors green and black.
Oshosi is the third member of the group known as the Guerreros or Warriors, and is received along with Elegba, Ogn and Osun in order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their roads. Oshosi is the hunter and the scout of the orishas and assumes the role of translator for Obatal with whom he has a very close relationship. His colors are blue and yellow.
Obatal is the kindly father of all the orishas and all humanity. He is also the owner of all heads and the mind. Though it was Olorun who created the universe, it is Obatal who is the creator of the world and humanity. Obatal is the source of all that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. He has a warrior side though through which he enforces justice in the world. His color is white which is often accented with red, purple and other colors to represent his/her different paths. White is most appropriate for Obatal as it contains all the colors of the rainbow yet is above them. Obatal is also the only orisha that has both male and female paths.
Oy is the ruler of the winds, the whirlwind and the gates of the cemetery. Her number is nine which recalls her title of Yansa or "Mother of Nine" in which she rules over the egun or dead. She is also known for the colors of maroon, flowery patterns and nine different colors. She is a fierce warrior who rides to war with Shang (sharing lightning and fire with him) and was once the wife of Ogn.
Oshn rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. She also is the one we most often approach to aid us in money matters. She is the youngest of the female orishas but retains the title of Iyalode or great queen. She heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. She is the femme fatale of the orishas and once saved the world by luring Ogn out of the forests using her feminine wiles. And,in her path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world from draught by flying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the process). Ikol means Messenger of the House (of Olodumare). For this reason all who are to be initiated as priests, no matter what orisha rules their head, must go to the river and give account of what they are about to do. She recognises herself in the colors yellow and gold and her number is five. Peacocks and vultures are hers and we use them often to represent her.
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