2025 Letter of the Year for Cuba

On January 1, 2025, the Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba unveiled the highly anticipated Letter of the Year, a document that outlines predictions and spiritual guidance for Cubans and the Yoruba religious community worldwide.

The Ifá priests, as they do every year, performed rituals and consulted the oracle to determine the key recommendations for the upcoming cycle. Devotees of the Yoruba religion who seek a prosperous year filled with success and balance in their lives must heed these warnings.

LYRIC OF THE YEAR 2025

IFÁ PREDICTIONS FOR CUBA AND THE WORLD

RULING SIGN: OGUNDA OGBE

FIRST WITNESS: BABA IRETE MEYÍ

SECOND WITNESS: OTURA OGBE

PROPHETIC PRAYER: I WILL GO ARIKÚ OYALE TESI TIMBALAYE (A kind of firm and secure health on the earthly plane with the blessing and support of all the Oshas and Orishas).

ONISHESI: BE KO translates to "ONISHESI: GIVE IT TO ME" in English

Ruling Deity: Shango

ACCOMPANIST: OSHUN

FLAG: Red with a white trim (The white trim along the path of Obatalá from the Oddun).

EBBÓS in IFÁ:

• A rooster, two yellow hens, seawater and river water, rotten soil.
• Three arrows, yellow cloth, female and male doll, trap.
• A little piece of gold, a tangle of thread, soil from a hole, two coconuts, two candles.
• Aguardiente, honey, smoked fish, smoked hutia, and toasted corn.

EBBÓ OF SANteros:

• A chicken, a trap, three arrows, seawater and river water, a coconut.

IN THIS SIGN, IT IS BORN:

• The representation of Olofin on earth.
• The common grave.
• Sadness and melancholy.
• Vandalism and crime.

PROVERBS OF THE SIGN:

• One man, with the help of Ifá, challenges 30 men to a fight and defeats them.
• The grave opens because of the jar.
• Eye of fire, adultery of the heart.
• If a slave dies, only his mother mourns him. If a free man dies, everyone talks about it; this is the unjust law of men.

DISEASES THAT ARE FORECASTED:

• Cancerous diseases, gastric and duodenal ulcers, or internal malignant tumors.
• Food poisoning and allergies.
• Sexually transmitted venereal diseases.
• Throat diseases.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Measures should be taken due to the increase in criminal activities.
• Carefully analyze economic investments and their consequences.
• Eliminate the accumulation of waste and hotspots that facilitate the spread of epidemic diseases.
• To care for and respect the integrity of marriage and family.
• Pay more attention to adolescents and young women.
• Special care should be taken in conversations in front of children.
• Reduce the consumption of alcohol and psychoactive substances.
• In this sign, pork is hard to digest, please respect that.
• It is recommended that those who have it pending receive Odduduwa.
• Pay special attention to Eleguá, Oshún, and Olokun.
• It is recommended to place Mariwó at the entrance and use white sheets.
• It is recommended that the daughters of Oshún avoid wearing yellow clothing.
• The money designated for religious ceremonies should not be used for other purposes.
• It is recommended that the clergy wash the house with okra.
• All religious individuals are expected to maintain and respect the discretion of our rituals.
• Pray to all the saints for understanding among nations and world peace.
• According to this prophecy, Orula provides us with a blessing of health to face all the difficulties and setbacks that may arise.

Ogunda Ogbe emphasizes the importance of truth and personal growth

The sign of Ifá Ogunda Ogbe also teaches about the importance of overcoming envy and lies, always emphasizing the value of truth as a cornerstone of life.

This Odu emphasizes the seriousness and responsibility that individuals must embrace in the various roles and positions they hold. Success does not come from longevity, but from the ability to adapt to change, as well as the desire to study, learn, and perform tasks well in order to rightfully earn the positions they occupy.

Ogunda Biode, associated with this sign, symbolizes hierarchy and crown, urging individuals to act with honesty, respect, and confidence; to avoid unnecessary enemies and to preserve harmony in their surroundings. It emphasizes sacrifice as a path to prosperity, facing obstacles with determination.

The Letter of the Year for 2025 for Cuba highlights that Shangó will be the ruling deity, with Oshún as his companion. Justice and strength will be crucial for achieving success, but this will only be possible if they allow themselves to be guided by sweetness, cunning, and love; only then will they be able to passionately conquer each goal.

This sign also warns of potential dangerous disappointments, so those who practice the religion should remain vigilant and be guided by the values of Ifá, always seeking spiritual and material balance in their lives.

2024: Unprecedented Economic and Social Crisis in Cuba

The year 2024 began with a profound economic, social, and energy crisis in Cuba. In January, the deterioration of basic infrastructures became evident with the dismantling of an illegal dwelling within a Cupet in Havana, which was being used as a residence by workers.

In addition, road safety took center stage with the overturning of a truck in Ciego de Ávila, an incident that highlighted the lack of maintenance on the roads and state transportation vehicles.

In February, the shortage of food and fuel intensified the crisis. In Santiago de Cuba, desperation drove people to chase down a food truck at an agricultural fair, highlighting the impact of the shortages. Meanwhile, the energy crisis affected mobility, as evidenced by a bus stranded in Havana due to lack of fuel. At the same time, deficiencies in the healthcare system came to light with the case of a child with cancer who needed basic medications and a wheelchair.

March was marked by the impact of the food and health crisis. One mother attempted suicide because she could not feed her child, a case that resonated as an example of the level of desperation in the population. At the same time, the shortage of basic supplies in the healthcare system became evident when a clinic in Havana was unable to attend to a victim of assault due to the lack of essential resources.

In April, the social crisis intensified, highlighted by cases such as that of a homeless teenager in Havana, reflecting the plight faced by many young people in the country. Additionally, the arrival of Cubans stranded in Haiti brought temporary relief to some families, but it also underscored the ongoing exodus as a means of escaping the crisis.

In May, the collapse of essential services continued with a shortage of glass for coffins in Santiago de Cuba, which even halted funeral activities. Social outrage grew as Cuban parents reported the psychological torture they experience daily due to the government's inaction.

In June, the health crisis once again became the center of attention with the case of a teenager abandoned in Santiago de Cuba who required urgent medical diagnosis. Additionally, frequent power outages affected both families and essential institutions, deepening the precariousness of basic services.

Julio demonstrated how the housing crisis remains a chronic issue. One family was living in a house at risk of collapse in Havana, while the price cap worsened the shortage, fostering a black market as the only alternative for accessing basic goods.

In August, public transportation completely collapsed, forcing a family in Santiago de Cuba to sleep outdoors. Social frustration was evident when a mother expressed that "this country is not progressing."

In September, food shortages forced a child to sell tamales in Camagüey to survive, while a family in Santiago reported going seven days without water or electricity.

October was marked by the devastation caused by Hurricane Oscar, after which the government rejected the international aid offered by the United States. At the same time, in Santiago de Cuba, classes were suspended due to a lack of food.

November brought some relief with the arrival of a ship that allowed the resumption of liquefied gas sales in Santiago. However, social tension intensified when a woman shouted, “Down with communism!” in Santiago and was detained by the authorities.

The year ended with a heart-wrenching December. In Ciego de Ávila, a fatal accident highlighted the dangers of poorly maintained roads, while in Havana, images of children sleeping in doorways prompted the community to seek solutions for vulnerable youth.

Frequently Asked Questions about the 2025 Letter of the Year in Cuba