Santeria predictions for 2010

Santeria, a syncretic religion mixing Catholic and West African religious elements, is common in Cuba. Some sources estimate that nearly 80% of the population consults with practitioners of religions with West African roots, including Santeria.

As is customary, a panel of Afro-Cuban Santeria priests convened on New Year’s Eve and the first day of 2010 in order to make their annual projections for the year ahead. This year, the predictions were gloomy: they warn of social and political unrest, struggles for power, treachery and coups d’etat. They predict that the world will see the death of an inordinate number of political leaders in 2010.

They also delved into a touchy issue in Cuba—that of political succession. The priests recommended that the old generation of leadership move aside and make room for the young, saying, “The older generations should pass their experience on to young people because times change, and the younger generation is better prepared.”

This sort of message can bring about broad shifts in belief and public opinion, often better than any political message. We shall see in the coming year how the Cuban population addresses issues like that of political succession and leadership by a new generation.

Another priest, Lazaro Cuesta, stressed that Santeria does not teach that the year end predictions are fated to occur, and that there is still time for the world to avoid the unrest and conflict forecast in the ceremony. ”The future is in all of our hands, from the youngest child to the most powerful leaders,” he said.

(Reuters photo)