Santeria, also known as Yoruba, Lukumi, or Orisha, was originally brought to the Americas from Africa by enslaved peoples destined for the Caribbean and South America; by the late 1980s it was estimated that more than 70 million African and American people participate in, or were familiar with, the various forms of Santeria, including traditional religions in Africa, Vodun in Haiti, Candomble in Brazil, Shango religion in Trinidad, Santeria in Cuba and, of course, variants of all of these in the U.S. Today, there are practitioners around the world including Europe and Asia. Yet, because of the secretive nature of the religion, it is difficult to get accurate and objective information. The author introduces readers to the religion, explores the basic elements, including the Orisha, and answers the many questions that Santeria arouses in observers and practitioners alike. Santeria was brought to the United States by Cuban exiles in the early 1960s after the Cuban Revolution. Since then it has spread to the larger Hispanic community, to the African American community, and to other groups as well. Today practitioners can be found in every state, and interest in Orisha and related traditions has gained popularity. As the number of practitioners has grown so has public awareness. In this compelling introduction, the author answers such questions as where: Did this religion come from? What do santeros believe? Is it a cult? What takes place at a ritual event? What do santeros believe regarding death and the afterlife? Is there ritual sacrifice? The author, a practitioner as well as a scholar of the faith, dispels the myths that surround this religious practice, and brings readers to a better understanding of this growing faith.