Baba Raul Canizares
Encyclopedia
Baba Raul Canizares was an Oba
, a Santería
n priest, an author, an artist, a musician and a professor of religion who founded the Orisha Consciousness Movement.
, where he was initiated into the mysteries of Obatala Oba Moro at age seven in the lineage of the legendary visionary priestess Yamaya Ferminita Gomez Oshabi. He was a blood descendant of Oyo
royalty on his mother's side and European nobility on his father's. While still a small child in Cuba, he was also initiated into the tradition of Palo Monte by Demetrio Gomez Camposanto Medianoche.
Obatala Oba Moro and the spirit guide known as Lord Jagga, Canizares established the Orisha Consciousness Movement (originally called the Ashram-Ilé Oba Moro) in New York City on March 24, 1995. The Movement received official recognition as a religious corporation on August 14, 1998. Since 1995, O.C.M. has grown into an international body with members from all parts of the world. The organization continues under the direction of Canizares' spiritual successor, Narayan Ramos, and is now based in Binghamton, New York
.
, Florida
. He held a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies, and a Masters in Religion, all from the University of South Florida
, where he served as adjunct professor until 1994. While at U.S.F. he designed the first full-credit course on Santería ever offered at an American university. Canizares has lectured and performed at the Starwood Festival
in 2001 and 2002 (presenting their first public Santería rituals by an actual Oba and author in the field), as well as the New York Open Center, the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center and The Learning Annex
in New York City. He has taught at academic institutions throughout the country, including The American Academy of Religion
, UCLA and Colby College
, .
, and three different one-man shows at Clayton's Gallery. In El Espectador (Puerto Rico
), art critic Luis Perez described Baba's works as "some of the most important sculptures of the latter part of the twentieth century." He produced three collections of spiritual music: Sacred Sounds of Santería, Rhythms of the Goddess and Cuban Trance.
Oba (ruler)
Oba is a West African synonym for monarch, one that is usually applied to the Yoruba and Edo rulers of the region. It is also often used by their traditional subjects to refer to other kings and queens, such as Elizabeth I of England, in their native languages.-Edo account of the word's origin:The...
, a Santería
Santería
Santería is a syncretic religion of West African and Caribbean origin influenced by Roman Catholic Christianity, also known as Regla de Ocha, La Regla Lucumi, or Lukumi. Its liturgical language, a dialect of Yoruba, is also known as Lucumi....
n priest, an author, an artist, a musician and a professor of religion who founded the Orisha Consciousness Movement.
Lineage
Canizares was born September 24, 1955 in CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, where he was initiated into the mysteries of Obatala Oba Moro at age seven in the lineage of the legendary visionary priestess Yamaya Ferminita Gomez Oshabi. He was a blood descendant of Oyo
Oyo Empire
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...
royalty on his mother's side and European nobility on his father's. While still a small child in Cuba, he was also initiated into the tradition of Palo Monte by Demetrio Gomez Camposanto Medianoche.
Orisha Consciousness Movement
Under the guidance of his head orishaOrisha
An Orisha is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system....
Obatala Oba Moro and the spirit guide known as Lord Jagga, Canizares established the Orisha Consciousness Movement (originally called the Ashram-Ilé Oba Moro) in New York City on March 24, 1995. The Movement received official recognition as a religious corporation on August 14, 1998. Since 1995, O.C.M. has grown into an international body with members from all parts of the world. The organization continues under the direction of Canizares' spiritual successor, Narayan Ramos, and is now based in Binghamton, New York
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
.
Academic background
Canizares earned an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from Hillsboruough Community College in TampaTâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He held a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies, and a Masters in Religion, all from the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, where he served as adjunct professor until 1994. While at U.S.F. he designed the first full-credit course on Santería ever offered at an American university. Canizares has lectured and performed at the Starwood Festival
Starwood Festival
The Starwood Festival is a seven-day Neo-Pagan, New Age, multi-cultural and world music festival presented in mid- to late July. Approximately 1,500 people attend including staff, speakers and entertainers. The Starwood Festival is a camping event which holds workshops on a variety of subjects...
in 2001 and 2002 (presenting their first public Santería rituals by an actual Oba and author in the field), as well as the New York Open Center, the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center and The Learning Annex
The Learning Annex
The Learning Annex is a private continuing adult education school based in New York. It was founded in 1980 by Bill Zanker in his New York City studio apartment with an investment of only $5,000...
in New York City. He has taught at academic institutions throughout the country, including The American Academy of Religion
American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,...
, UCLA and Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
, .
Published works
Canizares authored over a dozen books, including Cuban Santería: Walking With the Night, The Life and Works of Marie LaVeau and The Book on Palo. He published several more practical volumes under the name Robert Laremy including The Psalm Workbook and Spiritual Cleansing. His scholarly work has appeared in numerous journals, including A Journal of Alternative Religions, Journal of Dharma (India), Caribbean Quarterly (Jamaica) and Ethnic Studies Reports (Sri Lanka). Canizares won the prestigious Enrique Jose Varona literary prize in multiple categories: poetry, essay and short fiction.Art and music
Canizares’ work has been exhibited in the Cavin-Morris Gallery (a leading venue for Afro-Caribbean folk art in New York City), the Folk Art Museum in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, and three different one-man shows at Clayton's Gallery. In El Espectador (Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
), art critic Luis Perez described Baba's works as "some of the most important sculptures of the latter part of the twentieth century." He produced three collections of spiritual music: Sacred Sounds of Santería, Rhythms of the Goddess and Cuban Trance.
Partial bibliography
- 1999 - Cuban Santería: Walking With the Night (Ten Speed; Updated edition) ISBN 0-89281-762-3
- 2000 - Shango : Santería and the Orisha of Thunder(Original Publications) ISBN 0-942272-60-9
- 2000 - Obatala: Santería and the White Robed King of the Orisha (Original Publications) ISBN 0-942272-63-3
- 2001 - The Life and Works of Marie LaVeau (Original Publications) ISBN 0-942272-71-4
- 2001 - Eshu-Eleggua Elegbara: Santería and the Orisha of the Crossroads (Original Publications) ISBN 0-942272-61-7
- 2001 - The Psalm Workbook (under the name Robert Laremy) (Original Publications) ISBN 0-942272-68-4
- 2001 - Spiritual Cleansing (under the name Robert Laremy) (Original Publications) ISBN 0-942272-72-2
- 2002 - The Book on Palo (Original Publications) ISBN 0-942272-66-8
- 2002 - Oshún: Santería and Orisha of Love, Rivers & Sensuality (Original Publications) ISBN 0-942272-69-2
Discography
- 2004 - Sacred Sounds of Santería: Rhythms of the Orishas - Music CD (Destiny Recordings; Abridged edition) ISBN 1-59477-002-6
- Sacred Sounds of Santería: Rhythms of the Orishas (Destiny Recordings) ISBN 0-89281-407-1 (Cassette)
- 2005 - Sacred Sounds of the Female Orishas: Rhythms of the Goddess (Destiny Recordings) - Music CD ISBN 1-59477-071-9
- Cuban Trance - Music CD