Prieto: Yoruba Kingship in Colonial Cuba during the Age of Revolutions

Juan Nepomuceno Prieto, a member of the West African Yoruba people enslaved and taken to Havana during the Atlantic slave trade, is the focus of Henry B. Lovejoy's book. Prieto's evolving identity becomes the fascinating fulcrum of the book, as he achieved self-manumission while still in the military and became the religious leader of Havana's most famous Lucumi cabildo. He was arrested on suspicion of fomenting slave rebellion but his ultimate fate is unknown.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2018
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

This captivating Atlantic world history delves into the remarkable life of Juan Nepomuceno Prieto, a member of the West African Yoruba people who endured enslavement and was transported to Havana during the era of the Atlantic slave trade. Henry B. Lovejoy provides a profound exploration of the intricate process by which thousands of Yoruba speakers were coerced into life-and-death struggles in a foreign land. In Havana, Prieto and the majority of the Yoruba diaspora were labeled as Lucumi by the colonial authorities. Prieto's evolving identity becomes the central focus of this captivating narrative. Initially drafted as an enslaved soldier for Spain, Prieto achieved self-manumission while still serving in the military. As he ascended the ranks in his perilous new world, he assumed the role of religious leader of Havana's most renowned Lucumi cabildo, where he played a significant role in shaping the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria. However, his journey took a tumultuous turn when he was arrested on suspicion of fomenting slave rebellion. Trial testimony reveals that he fell ill during his incarceration, but the ultimate outcome of his fate remains shrouded in mystery.

Despite the gaps and inconsistencies that will likely remain unresolved forever, Prieto's life offers a poignant glimpse into the extraordinary ways in which Africans crafted diverse identities and resisted oppression in Cuba and throughout the broader Atlantic world. His story serves as a testament to the resilience and creativity of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Weight: 402g
Dimension: 157 x 234 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781469645391