I have chosen to research the Ceramic-Tiled Image of the Afro-Cuban Goddess Yemayá. This object is a drink tray and is used to carry drinks and is depicting a cuban deity despite the object being from the United States. The object was designed by Ernesto Pichardo who is a Cuban Santero who was the plaintiff in a 1987 Supreme Court Case which ruled in favor of Ernesto Pichardo and overturned a ban on animal sacrifice. The law that was put into place in 1987 in the city of Hialeah, Florida. Despite its non-ritual use this object has a connection to an important Supreme Court ruling that is very important for many religions that practice animal sacrifice. Ernesto Pichardo is known for attempting to re-africanize his sect of Santoria.

Yemayá is the goddess of the sea and as a result has somewhat of an association with water and other drinks because of her being an entity controlling the water. Additionally the number seven, Yemayá’s sacred number, is ever present in the tray. The seven sea creature in the bottom portion of the border, the seven Cowrie Shells on the border, The seven starfish on each side of the border, the seven fish hooks on the border, and the seven Cowrie shells on Yemayá’s necklace the ever present nature of seven in the object is immensely important to the deity that is depicted on the tile. However, in Africa Yemayá’s number is nine as opposed to seven in Cuba “nine is one of the numbers of Yemayá in Africa, as in the Abeokuta praise verse, “open river, divided into nine parts.”(Thompson 76-77). Finding more about the Cuban outlook on the numbers was something I wasn’t able to find out about more in the readings.

In order to find more information on the imagery for my research I will need a primary and secondary source. I will research Cuban festivals and altars dedicated to Yemayá in order to find out what items are considered sacred to her and what the usage and meaning of those objects are. I will read books and articles online to find out more about Yemayá from Cuban people who worship her so I can better understand her from the eyes of a Cuban worshipper. With the information I think I will be able to understand the differences between the way African and Cuban people worship the same deity differently and also understand why those differences have happened.