Lukumí Etymology - Origin & History

Lukumí

/lukuˈmi/noun

A Yoruba-derived ritual language and cultural tradition of Afro-Cuban religious communities, also called Lucumí.

Did you know?Lukumí preserves portions of Yoruba religious vocabulary and liturgy, especially in Regla de Ocha, often known in English as Santería.

Etymological Timeline

Precolonial period

Yoruba

“A proposed source meaning “my friend” or “my confidant”; the exact derivation remains debated.”

16th–19th Centuries

Spanish

“A colonial term for Yoruba-speaking Africans and their descendants in Cuba.”

19th Century

Afro-Cuban Spanish

“The Yoruba-derived speech and ritual vocabulary used within Afro-Cuban religious communities.”

20th Century

English

“An established English term for the language, liturgy, and cultural tradition associated with Yoruba-derived Cuban religion.”

Modern English

English

“A modern spelling variant emphasizing the word’s Yoruba and Afro-Cuban identity.”

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