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María Isabel Reyes—Asonsimeneco


Late last week as I sat with the ancestors, I had a very clear image of María Isabel Reyes—Asonsimeneco.  When I met her in 2004 with David Brown, she was all heart. Never a star, María Isabel was content to live in her small house and offer coffee to those who visited. Just as in life, she appeared warm, grounded, unambitious and just grateful for the attention.
Until her passing a couple years back, she was the senior Asojano priestess at the Cabildo Arará Sabalú Nonjó in Matanzas.  Born on April 16, 1944, she was initiated on July 6, 1954 at age ten.  Amelia Mora—Chiarré was her oyugbona, and Dolores  “Lola” Vinajera—Juniko had Asojano made and served as her godmother. Lola had been made by Flora Heredia, who had made Towosi (the Arará Yewá). María Isabel waited 36 years to initiate her first priest, and that was Pedro Abreu—Asonyanye on February 20, 1992.  In time she gave other Asojanos and even made a young man from Miami.
 While a legitimate defender of the Sabalú idea that only those who have made Asojano can give or make the fodun, María Isabel said she respected Babalú-Ayé  Lucumí.
(Thanks to David H. Brown for the photo.)
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  1. DavidASosaMarch 6, 2012 at 5:00 PM

    Love this

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Atwood MasonMarch 6, 2012 at 5:02 PM

      Glad you liked. Just curious to know what particularly you liked?

      Delete
  2. isaias hernandezMarch 26, 2012 at 2:05 AM

    Hola muchas felicidadez pot tu blog
    Soy Ahijado de mabel ( yoyima ) ahijada de maria isabel por lo qu entiendo la ultima hija de azojano que hizo maria isabel reyes.
    Fui coronado en la misma casa de la difunta que ya fue comprada por yoel ( oloriton ) hijo de oya, ami y mi pareja nos hicieron en arara
    Me gustaria saber mas de guero y como dev de ser atendido ya que a los dos no los entreagron
    Tambien poder contactar a pedro abreu ya que es mas facial llamar a eeuu qye a cuba

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Atwood MasonMarch 26, 2012 at 11:32 AM

      Haré lo posible para presentar mas sobre Güeró. Pedro Abreu sí vive en Cuba así que no le facilite nada. Mándeme un correo si quiere su teléfono en la Habana.

      Delete
  3. UnknownOctober 25, 2012 at 12:42 AM

    hola soy de venezuela me podría facilitar el teléfono del sr pedro de abreu este es mi correo ben-30@hotmail.com, mi ángel de la guarda es azowano.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJune 10, 2014 at 1:54 PM

    Hola,

    Mi papá hizo Asojuano con Pedro Abreu en Cuba; me gustaría hacer lo mismo pero hemos perdido su teléfono. Tanto el de Cuba como el que tiene en México.

    Podrías facilitarme el que tengas? muchas gracias. Mi correo es: chema71@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJuly 7, 2015 at 8:16 PM

    Gracias

    ReplyDelete

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