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The countdown has begun. The Yoruba religious community in Cuba and around the world is eagerly awaiting the revelation of the Letter of the Year 2026, one of the most significant ceremonies in the Afro-Cuban religious calendar.
See the Letter of the Year 2026 for Cuba here
As is tradition, this annual prophecy will set the spiritual, moral, and social guidelines for the new year.
However, as is customary, at the beginning of this month the pre-opening ceremony was held, which paves the way.
Pre-opening Ceremony: The Beginning of the Journey
On December 1st at 10:00 a.m., the pre-opening ceremony for the Letter of the Year 2026 was held at the national headquarters of the Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba, located at Prado No. 615, Old Havana.
The event was presided over by Roberto Padrón Silva, president of the institution, along with members of the National Board of Directors and affiliated babalawos.
As reported by the Association, during the ceremony, the oracle of Ifá was consulted by Awo Alfredo Lima Oshe Nilogbe, a member of the Ifá Council of Elders.
The result was the first prophecy linked to the cycle that begins:
Preopening Prophecy:
Odun: Osa She.
Prophecy: I will go to Buyoko Lowo Orunmila.
Addimú: yam with two candles.
Ebbo: a rooster, female and male doll, body measurements, shoe soles, yam, plowed land, stake, used clothing, two bundles, two candles, oti, oñi, eku, eya, awaldo, and other ingredients.
The organization clarified that this does not constitute the definitive Letter of the Year, but rather is a preliminary consultation, the starting point of a more extensive ritual process
“This prophecy is not The Letter of the Year. It is the initial consultation, where the preliminary ceremonies begin that prepare the way, along with other works that take place throughout the month of December and culminate on December 31 at midnight with the obtaining of The Letter of the Year for 2026”, stated the National Board.
The fulfillment of the marked Ebbo
Subsequently, on December 12, the Association reported that the corresponding ebbo was performed, that is, the ritual work prescribed by the oracle during the pre-opening ceremony.
This was presided over by members of the Council of Senior Ifá Priests at the national headquarters of the institution.
The fulfillment of this stage is essential within the Yoruba protocol, as it allows for the realization of the oracle's recommendations to guide the energies of the new year.
Anticipating January 2: Public Event and Ceremony
The Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba has called for a press conference on January 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., where the highly anticipated Letter of the Year will be officially announced, although, as every year, it is expected to be released on social media beforehand.
The event will also feature an art exhibition titled "Echoes of Silence" by the artist Carlos A. Pimentel Boiza (Pimbo), scheduled for 1:00 p.m., and will conclude with a drum performance for Odduwa at 2:00 p.m.
A Year Guided by Shangó and Oshún: Reflections on 2025
As context, it is worth remembering that in the current year 2025, the Letter of the Year issued by the Association on January 1 was governed by the sign Ogunda Ogbe, and accompanied by a prophetic prayer for spiritual stability:
“Iré Arikú Oyale Tesi Timbalayé” —a kind of firm and secure health on the earthly plane, with the blessing and support of all the Oshas and Orishas.
The ruling divinity was Shangó, accompanied by Oshún, which defined a year of strong energies associated with leadership, justice, passion, as well as sweetness and fertility.
Social and Spiritual Significance of the Letter of the Year
For the practitioners of the Regla de Ocha and Ifá, as well as for many Cubans beyond the religious framework, the Letter of the Year has become a reference document that is not only spiritual but also cultural and social. In a country marked by deep economic, social, and political crises, these guidelines provide a symbolic compass to approach the new year with hope, caution, or action, depending on the oracle's warnings.
This intricate tapestry of preliminary ceremonies, prophetic prayers, ebbo, and consultations with the oracle reflects a vibrant, resilient spirituality that remains relevant in the present and has a vision for the future.
The arrival of the Letter of the Year 2026 occurs in an especially complex context for the Cuban population.
The island is experiencing one of the worst economic crises in its recent history, marked by an increase in diseases, uncontrolled inflation, the collapse of basic services such as electricity, water supply, and transportation, shortages of food and medications, and an unprecedented migratory exodus.
In the midst of this landscape, many people find in Yoruba religion not only a spiritual refuge but also a symbolic language that helps them understand and withstand everyday difficulties.
The recommendations of the oracle, the ruling signs, and the warnings contained in the Letter of the Year become, for thousands of people, a guide to life in times of uncertainty.
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