Hidden Powers of State in the Cuban Imagination

217 Pages·2010·2.41 MB·English

by  Kenneth Routon

Hidden Powers of State in the Cuban Imagination
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola
This page intentionally left blank
Hidden Powers of State
in the Cuban Imagination
Kenneth Routon
University Press of Florida
Gainesville · Tallahassee · Tampa · Boca Raton
Pensacola · Orlando · Miami · Jacksonville · Ft. Myers · Sarasota
Copyright 2010 by Kenneth Routon
All rights reserved
All figures in this book are reproduced courtesy of the author,
unless otherwise noted.
Printed in the United States of America. This book is printed on Glatfelter
Natures Book, a paper certified under the standards of the Forestry
Stewardship Council (FSC). It is a recycled stock that contains 30 percent
post-consumer waste and is acid-free.
First cloth printing, 2010
First paperback printing, 2011
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Routon, Kenneth.
Hidden powers of state in the Cuban imagination / Kenneth Routon.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8130-3483-6 (alk. paper)
ISBN 978-0-8130-4196-4 (pbk.)
1. Cuba—Politics and government—1959–1990. 2. Cuba—Politics and
government—1990–93. Political culture—Cuba. 4. Socialism—Cuba.
5. Exceptionalism—Cuba. I. Title.
F1788.R595 2010
972.9106'4—dc22 2010001921
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State
University System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida
Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International
University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, University of
Central Florida, University of Florida, University of North Florida, University
of South Florida, and University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
http://www.upf.com
To Lisbeth and Beny
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
List of Figures ix
Acknowledgments xi
1. The Magic of the Revolution 1
2. The Eye and the Tongue 19
3. The Opacity of Power 39
4. Conjuring the Past 63
5. Tying the Yuma to the Stick 87
6. The Cult of the Profane 111
7. The Prophetics of Revolution 143
Epilogue 169
Notes 175
Bibliography 185
Index 197
This page intentionally left blank
Figures
1.1. The Union of Communist Youth’s mural depicting José Martí holding
an effigy of Elegguá 11
2.1a. and 2.1b. Two examples of charm-images, posted on the outside of
houses, that protect against evil eye and “bad tongue” 21
4.1. The nganga “Induatuá,” the spirit-doll “Manuel,” and the nganga
“Tierra Tiembla” 64
4.2. Alberto Lescay’s “Monument to the Runaway Slave” 68
5.1a. and 5.1b. A magical plan to “tie the yuma [foreigner] to the stick” 109
7.1. Animal sacrifices to Olokun along the Malecón 145
7.2. Commercial poster advertising Santero aguardiente 147
7.3. Commercial poster advertising “spiritual perfumes” 147
7.4. A billboard featuring revolutionary slogans side by side with another
promoting tourism 147
7.5. Tourist billboard featuring a smiling, elderly santera and a younger
devotee of Ochún “sharing their joy” 148
7.6. The Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba’s restored mansion 159
7.7. A Santería altar (trono) in one of Guanabacoa’s dollar stores 163