07.08.15 : Tirso Duarte – Crisna

Good day dear readers.

Today I wish to present an interesting song by Tirso Duarte, with references to both tradition and modern culture in Cuba, as perecieved by this musician.


In Cuban songs (with Timba being no exception) one can find plenty of references to Orishas and a specific form of syncretism found in Cuba called Santeria.

In Cuba there has been a good amount of mixing throughout the country’s history, genetic and cultural.
This was especially apparent in the sphere of religion.
Interestingly, despite what many might think of socialist regimes, in Cuba the government has been very lenient about religious practices, and mostly the Cuban people enjoy the freedom of belief, and practice their religious customs and traditions.
Not many people know, but Cuba has a Buddhist & Hinduist community of ~15000 people, and many more practice yoga, meditation and other activities which take root in the spiritual culture of the far east.

It seems that Tirso Duarte has taken some interest in Hinduism, as this song is about the supreme god of that religion, Krishna, or as pronounced in Spanish, Crisna.
Throughout the composition one can find the singer addressing Crisna, talking about some aspects of Hindu philosophy, and some mantras \ prayers to the god.
Hidden deeper still, one can also find a few references to the Afro-Cuban traditions as well.

I guess that in Cuba it can all exist together just fine… or at least in the mind of one wonderful Cuban musician.

Disfruten!

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