oshunschild

I am a London based Iyalosha, ( Priest in the Lucumi tradition) crowned with Ochun. I am also a mother and a grandmother. I am passionate about the arts and spending time in nature. I Grew up in London, mixed background, third generation musician and I was classically trained at the London College of Music. I studied West African percussion in the early 1980’s with Isaac Tagoe from Ghana, in the historical centre of Jenako Arts in Dalston, and then I went to study music and research for a PhD in the 1980’s in Cuba and fell in love with the variety and wealth of music on the island. This prompted me to form my first Salsa band in 1989 Salsa Y Aché. I have been on the scene as a musician, writer and former dancer for nearly forty years. Sue Steward in her book “ Salsa: Musical Heartbeat of Latin America” sites me as the first Salsa dance teacher in England in 1989. After Salsa Y Aché, I then formed Salsasonica which recorded with Buena Vista's Guajiro Mirabal. I have taught Cuban Music to children, organised out of hours cultural projects with other musicians for children of all ages. I have organised musical trips to Cuba. I Have written about Latin Music, and I am passionate about singing and encouraging everyone to sing. I formally ran "singing for the terrified" at the Mary Ward Centre, in addition to a world music choir. My involvement as an initiate of the religion Santeria inspired me to hold song for the Orisha workshops with Martha Galarraga. My knowledge has come from singing in ceremonies in Cuba and from other singers and teachers. In 2010 I spent time in Matanzas learning with Dolores Herrera, Israel Berriel, Maikel Guzmuri Rodriguez; Oscarito Rodriguez Pedroso of the Cabildo Arara Sabalu. I also spent time with Galves and the Cajon Siete Potencias, studying songs from the tradition of Espiritismo of which I am is a practitioner. I formed the London Lucumi Choir in 2006 after two years of facilitating Orisha song workshops. The choir has performed all over the UK, in major theatres such as the Barbican, the Southbank, Union Chapel, Rich Mix, The British Museum and the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. In addition, we have performed at festivals such as La Linea, Bestival, Shambala, Tropical Pressure amongst others. The Choir has performed on Radio and Television and has consistently been nominated in the Lukas awards, where we were second in our category in 2018 ( for contribution to Latin Music and Arts). We have collaborated with many different projects and artists, including the Musical Project "IFÉ" and we were invited by Bomba Estereo from Colombia to perform with them in 2022. Since 2024 I have been investigating links between Lucumi Song and Gnawa song in Morocco. In 2025 we performed with members of the Choir and with Ma'alem Abdulkader Amlil. I Have been a practitioner of Santeria, also known as Lucumi since my first reading when living in Cuba 1986. Between the years 1991 and 2005 I received My Elekes, Warriors and Olokun. In 2005 I received my Ikofafun ( Ifa)from my Padrino Angel Polanco, Irete untelu ( Omo Elegua) and on February 9 2006 I became initiated Into the mysteries of Ochun in Luyano, Havana at the hands of Oshainle (Ibae) and Omi Laibo My Branch of the religion is La Pimienta and I can trace my lineage six generations back to Aurora Lamar Oba Tola.http://www.orishanet.org/?page_id=114 I received the ceremony of Pinaldo (http://orishanet.org/knife.html) in Havana in July 2018 from Santa Maldonado, Baba Funke and Omi Saide ( Felicia Alfonso). I run an active Ile (religious house/Orisha temple) and have initiated nine Godchildren into the mysteries of the Orisha. I Recently published my first book: " The Lucumi Practitioner's Handbook" ( by Daniela R De Armas") available online and some bookshops. In addition to running the Choir and guiding Godchildren in the Lucumi faith, writing and studying, I am also a diviner of the Dilogun. I enjoy spending time with my family. I have a passion for art and nature, good music, genealogy and travel. I enjoy writing, beading and embroidery, when I have the time and I love to wind down with trash TV and an episode of Coronation Street or Eastenders. I am also a late diagnosed Audhder which has influenced many aspects of my creative and spiritual life.