Yenly Landa, a Cuban content creator, captivated her TikTok audience with a heartfelt video showcasing the meticulous preparations she undertook at home for her goddaughter's Oshún coronation, a significant initiation rite within the Regla de Ocha.
In the video, Yenly introduces herself as the godmother of the ceremony, explaining that the orisha guided her goddaughter to her religious home, known as ilé. "When an orisha places someone in your path, they are also entrusting you with a responsibility," she states in the clip.
One of the most intriguing aspects of her narrative is the quest for ritual objects. Early in the morning, Yenly visited several Dollar Tree stores to gather plates and cups intended as gifts for the participating santeros. "Look at these plates. Do you know where I got them? At Dollar Tree. Yes, my dear. I woke up very early and visited all the stores," she recounts with a natural flair.
She was missing just one cup to complete the set, and it was her spiritual sister who eventually found it in another store. "I couldn’t find all the cups; I was missing just one, and my sister in faith finally found it for me," she shares.
Yenly assembled individual gift bags for each santero contributing their hands and aché—the sacred energy—to her goddaughter's consecration.
While the video details the physical preparations, Yenly emphasizes that the true essence of the event transcends these elements. "My loves, what you see is not what's most important; a coronation is about much more than that. But you know, I love to infuse love into the smallest details," she expresses.
For Yenly, Oshún holds a special place in her religious life. "When it's about Oshún, everything carries a special sentiment for me because Oshún embodies sweetness, love, prosperity, beauty, yet also firmness," she mentions in the clip.
In Cuban Santería, Oshún is revered as the orisha of freshwaters, love, fertility, and prosperity, and is syncretized with Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba's patron saint, celebrated on September 8.
The coronation, also referred to as "making saint," is the major initiation rite of Regla de Ocha. After consecration, the initiate, known as iyawó, remains in seclusion for seven days in the igbodú, or saint's room, forever bonded to their tutelary orisha.
The video demonstrates how the Cuban diaspora in the United States preserves its religious traditions by adapting available resources and balancing devotion with creativity. The post garnered over 73,400 views, nearly 9,800 likes, and almost 800 shares, indicating high engagement with the content.
Yenly announced a follow-up video to show how she finishes preparing each gift bag for the santeros and concluded the clip with a blessing: "May Oshún bless you all."
Understanding Oshún Coronation in Cuban Santería
What is the significance of Oshún in Cuban Santería?
Oshún is a revered orisha in Cuban Santería, symbolizing love, fertility, prosperity, and freshwaters. She is also syncretized with Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba's patron saint.
What does the Oshún coronation ritual involve?
The Oshún coronation, or "making saint," is a major initiation rite in the Regla de Ocha. It involves consecrating the initiate, who then spends seven days in seclusion, forging a lifelong bond with their tutelary orisha.