Lydia Cabrera Boeken

First published in Cuba in 1954 and appearing here in English for the first time, Lydia Cabrera's El Monte is a foundational and iconic study of Afro- Cuban religious and cultural tradition that is essential for scholars, activists, and practitioners alike.

The book explores the significance of Abakuá societies formed by enslaved Africans in Cuba during the early 1800s, focusing on their cultural practices and contributions to Cuban identity, including rumba music. It features Lydia Cabrera's groundbreaking phrasebook, the largest work on any African diaspora community in the Americas, now translated into English. The text includes detailed commentaries linking phrases to mythic rites and ritual performances, alongside illustrations and a new introduction, enriching the understanding of this vital aspect of Cuban heritage.

Lydia Cabrera erzählt in ihren Geschichten, die sie als Kind und junge Frau hörte, von der karibischen Welt, in der Menschen- und Tierwelt verschwimmen. Ihre amoralischen Erzählungen sind voller Lebensfreude, Humor und spöttischer Kritik an menschlichen Schwächen, ohne sich um moralische Belehrung zu kümmern.