In any corner of Camagüey, the African heritage is latent. If you travel along the Santa Cruz highway and reach km 10 to a community known as La Pata, there you will find a lady who is very loved by all, who proudly shows her brown skin and many other virtues of hers.
I’m talking about Ángela Gutiérrez, or better ask for Yiya, which is her battle name. In the small living room of her apartment, located on the first floor of building number 4, you always find two or three neighbors, they may be going to share a coffee, or to look for a medicinal leaf, to have their indigestion cured, or simply to receive advice, since this requested woman is a kind of mayor.
She has earned her respect and affection through her actions, since she is usually very fair and kind, her door is always open to help and to promote any work in town. She from her Yoruba ancestors inherited faith and grace to heal or assist those who suffer, that is her greatest wealth.
Her origins
Her great-grandmother, Catalina Torres, and her grandfather, José Vejarano, came from Angola, bought a plot of land in Santacruceñas, near the Macareño sugar mill, and began to work to get by.
As she tells us, her grandfather was a handsome black man, once in a fight with a foreman, he shot him and killed him, since then his fame of brave and fair grew, virtues that the family holds to this day.
Only through photos and family anecdotes Yiya met her grandfather, however, without anyone instilling it in her, by her own inspiration she inherited the religion, her beautiful altar welcomes requests for the health of anyone, known or not. During the Covid pandemic, each friend or neighbor that fell ill was on the list of requests that each morning, lit by a candle, cheered for the patient’s speedy recovery.
A pause to heal
While we were talking, Samuel arrived, the little boy from the corner, who has a poor digestion and only Yiya makes him feel better with her prayers, excuse me, she tells me, but this remedy cannot wait. She measures it with a towel and sentences, he is sick, we have to cure him. After a few prayers and three mouthfuls of water, the boy leaves happy. I ask him if it doesn’t hurt him anymore and without looking at me, as embarrassed he gives her a kiss and says… I’m fine, while he runs away.
Yiya
We resume the conversation, she looks happy for having helped and she confessed, lowering her voice: I pray to my grandfather José a lot, he always helps me when I need a remedy for someone’s health, he and his orishas give me the aché to cure.
In her innocence as a child, Angela thought that her mission in life was to kill a foreman like her grandfather did, but God save her, she says, she does no harm to anyone, her petitions to the saints are for good, well she knows of the pleasure that comes from extending your hand to whoever knocks on the door.
With that beautiful image of kindness, I thank the Mayoress of KM 10, for her time, while she suggests I have a bottle of very cold pru, which is good for digestion, the candle on the altar goes out, her prayers have already been answered and little Samuel and other people will receive relief, because the blood of Catalina and José worked to fertilize this land and now illuminate their granddaughter Yiya from eternity, who has a Gift to listen and help in any circumstance.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
