London based Iyalorisha, crowned with Ochun; passionate about the arts

I grew up in London, mixed background, third generation musician. I went to study music in Cuba in 1986, since then I have done many things. I was one of the first Salsa Dance Teachers in London in 1989, before it became the sport of a million suburban housewives; I formed Orchestra Salsa Y    Ache in late 80’s, I toured and did many gigs for seven years; then  Salsasonica which recorded with Buena Vista’s Guajiro Mirabal. I Have  taught Cuban Music to children, amongst many other things. I have written  about Latin Music for various publications including Songlines and the  Online publication Salsa Artists.com which was managed by Julia Sewell. I  Have been a practitioner of Santeria since 1986 and became initiated as a  Priestess of Ochun in Havana in Feb 2006. I have organised small trips to  Cuba plus I run and direct the London Lucumi Choir which sings Afro  Cuban songs to the Orisha and other Afro-Cuban genres.  I also feel  passionate about everyone’s right to sing and teach those who are scared  about singing that they too can and should sing. I am interested in lots of  different things, I love singing, spending time with family and enjoy sharing any knowledge I may have picked up with others and equally always prepared to learn. I enjoy music and all things art related.

For more about me have a look at my Gravatar profile. https://en.gravatar.com/oshunschild

This blog was inspired by the fact that the experience of being a practitioner of Lucumi (or Santeria) in London and the UK is a different one to those elsewhere. The community is young, dispersed and resources are few. In this Blog I discuss my experiences as a Lucumi Practitioner and respond to familiar questions that I have received. I also feature some great mainly British Based Artists, and hope that this Blog can be a forum in raising awareness of the talent that exists in the UK. I review films  books and I have interviewed people for this Blog also.

Please enjoy the articles, please feel free to comment.  and also the playlist which comes from my projects  two recordings and several demos. If you enjoy what you hear, please support the London Lucumi Choir and the musicians who have taken part by downloading the CD.  We are a non funded non audition community based project. Guest musicians and Soloists include Juwon Ogungbe ( Yoruba Lullaby Medley) Sonia Kounasso Singing “Tou Tou Gbovi” ( Lullaby from Benin) and also Nana Aldrin Quaye and lilli Elina ( Lacho)

Please also feel free to change Language with Google Translate.

If you are an artist and would like to be featured or a film maker that would like to be interviewed, please get in contact. If you are an Orisha practitioner who is UK based and would like me to feature you and what you have to offer, please also get in contact: