VOICED: Nigerian-based music a favourite for Cubans

The video explores the start of the carnival season in Havana, highlighting the role of the Alacran dance troupe. It delves into the Santeria purification rituals, a blend of Catholicism and ancestral worship, introduced by Nigerian slaves. The dancers reenact ancient rituals using paper lanterns symbolizing divinities. The legend of Alacron, a young slave stung by a scorpion, is recounted. Economic restrictions in Cuba have impacted the availability of props for the dances. Despite challenges, Alacran remains the oldest carnival dance troupe, preserving traditional dances since 1908.

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