What is the Kimbisa Rule? More than a cult of the sacred Spirits

The Kimbisa It was the union of religious expressions created by what is now a legend among devotees: the Abakuá André Petit, also called Andrés Quimbisa, Cristo Facundo de los Dolores or El Caballero de Color.

Journalist Jorge Méndez was Andres Petit, the founder of the Kimbisa, a strong ñáñiga power also baptized in 1863 as Bacocó Efór, which gave way to the Afro-Cuban religion that today thickens the roots of this Island and that welcomes all devotees, such as Cubans.

Petit was a tertiary in the convent of Guanabacoa, Lucumí, owner of nganga, mayombero, and Isué and it was said that he had supernatural powers, so he decided one day, to open space in religion for Catholic worship and to welcome in the same expression to those who practiced The Rule of osha (santeria), Mayombería, spiritism and the devotees of the Church.

Kimbisa, the Rule of Unity religious

The Kimbisa Rule It stands out since its emergence, for integrating African religious expressions in its worship together with Christian prayer, carrying a message of brotherhood, union and peace to its followers, who could be both white and black.

Among its spiritual guides are San Luis Beltrán, San Antonio, San Miguel Arcángel and San Benito de Palermo, among others. Thus, the Kimbisa even achieved the acceptance of the Catholic clergy.

The rite of passage, hierarchy and characteristics of the Kimbisa

The foundation or major nganga of the Kimbisa, is Zarabanda, on which the main ceremonies, initiations, cleanings, life changes, among other things, are made and without it, nothing was possible.

As main figures of the Kimbisa Rule There were the Nganga father and the Nganga mother, the elders of the temple, and then there was the figure of the steward of the garment that supported the Nganga father. The ngueyos, for their part, were the newcomers.

Also joining the ceremonies were people who wanted to be part of the Rule, whose behavior was analyzed and if they passed the test then, they were subjected to the initiation process in which they had to swear before the nganga and the nganga father.

As part of the oath, it included the following issues:

Do you swear by the existence of God?
Do you swear to love and have loved your parents?
Do you swear to forgive your enemy?
Do you swear not to betray this sacred institution?
Does he categorically swear under his own words and before the crucifix that he holds in his hand that he has not been induced by any evildoer, and that he has freely and spontaneously offered to enter her bosom?

The Kimbisa In his ceremonies he uses elements such as basil, the glass of water, the crucifix, Christian prayer, as well as flowers and perfumes for spiritual masses and to break spells.

The most important feast celebrated in the town hall was the Holy Christ, which was attended by all the Nganga fathers and Nganga mothers from all nearby temples.