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Orisha Song Lessons with Ernesto "Gato" Gatell, a world-renowned musician.
These recordings are of the call-and-response-style lesson, and contain many pauses, repetitions, and flat notes. During ceremonies, participants are aware of the responses required by the apkwon, whose role is to respond to the drummers and mood of the ceremony in singing the correct songs. The songs are listed here in the order in which we learned them, which is the order in which they're sung in ceremonies. Only five of the many orishas are represented here; these are among the most popular and well-known.
Elegua is the orisha who opens and closes doors. He always opens Santeria ceremonies, and is said to be both a child and an old man. He has a trickster personality, and his colors are black and red. This is the orisha song I heard most often in Cuba, and the one I was most familiar with before traveling, due to the version produced by the French-Cuban duo Ibeyi.
The warrior Ogun, whose colors are green and black, is the owner of metals and tools. His place in the ceremony always comes second. Ogun's syncretic association is with St. Peter.
Ochosi is the hunter, whose colors are purple and black. He doesn't have very many songs and those he does have are short, so sometimes verses are repeated. Ochosi must be sung third in a ceremony, but after him, the order may vary depending on the occasion and purpose of the ceremony.
Chango, whose colors are red and white, is one of the most commonly-seen orishas. He owns lightning and the Bata drums integral to Santeria/Lucumi ceremonies, which are double-headed in shape to honor Chango's distinctive double-headed ax. Chango is associated with the Catholic Saint Barbara, whose father was struck dead by lightning after beheading her. A story about Chango recalls how his wife helped disguise him in her dress and braids so he could escape the enemies surrounding him; because of this story, it's acceptable for the male Chango to be associated with the female Saint Barbara.
Oshun, along with Yemaya, is one of the most popular female orishas. Her colors are gold and white, and she is the orisha of rivers and streams. Associated with mature women and sensuality, Oshun is often represented by dancers who hold a mirror and flirt with Ogun and Chango.