The Cuban content creator @cuquitaquintana_oficial shared an emotional tribute on TikTok on Monday to celebrate the Day of Yemayá, the orisha of the sea and motherhood in Cuban santería, with a message of gratitude that resonated with thousands of followers.
The 7th of September is the most important date in the Afro-Cuban religious calendar to honor Yemayá, who in Cuban syncretism is identified with the Virgin of Regla, patroness of the Havana bay. On this day, Catholic devotion and Afro-Cuban worship converge, with offerings to the sea, batá drums, songs, and processions at the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Regla, in the Havana municipality of Regla.
In her nearly three-minute video, the creator did not approach the orisha with material requests but with words of deep gratitude. "When I say that my mom has blessed me, I am not referring to money or material things; I am referring to situations that were sent to destroy me and didn't even touch my soul," she stated at the beginning of the recording.
The description accompanying the post captured the same intimate and devoted tone: "To my mother Yemayá, who knows my tears, my struggles, my silences, and also my victories. I come not to ask you for anything, mother… today I come to thank you. For what I have lived, for what I have learned, and even for what I did not understand at the time."
The video also included a song dedicated to the orisha: "When everything weighs heavy, I return to your power, you read my silence and I am reborn. Your cold water breaks what hurts, your firm light cleanses everything that wounds, your steel cuts what is useless, you remove the darkness and do not allow it to return."
The publication concluded with the phrase "Maferefún Yemayá," an expression from the Lukumí language of Santería that translates to "may Yemayá be praised."
Yemayá is one of the most revered orishas in the Regla de Ocha, a religion of Yoruba origin brought to Cuba by African slaves and syncretized with Catholicism. Her colors are blue and white, her sacred number is seven, and her symbols include the sea, shells, fish, and the ritual fan known as abebé. Among the typical offerings that devotees bring to the sea are watermelon, cantaloupe, white flowers, coconut candy, and silver objects.
In recent years, TikTok has become a space where Cuban creators, both on and off the island, share songs, spiritual messages, and tributes to the orishas, blending faith, cultural identity, and digital content. The video by @cuquitaquintana_oficial fits into this trend, yet stands out for its intimate character and explicit renunciation of any material requests.
The post accumulated over 21,200 views, 3,730 reactions, and 181 comments, a response that reflects the significance of devotion to Yemayá among Cubans, regardless of where they are.
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