José Manuel Pérez Andino, president of the Asociación Cultural Yoruba de Cuba, passes away

April 8, 2021

On Wednesday, April 7, at the age of 67, José Manuel Pérez Andino, president of the Asociación Cultural Yoruba de Cuba, died from cardiorespiratory complications. He also held responsibilities in the Asociación Abacuá de Cuba, was a practitioner of other religions of African origin, and was also a Freemason.

Manolo Ogbeyono, his religious name, was an ecumenical religious leader of great prestige and authority, member of the coordination of the Plataforma Interreligiosa Cubana, who was always linked to the country's work in his area of residence.

In 2006, Ogbeyono joined the Asociación Cultural Yoruba, founded in 1991, and was its third president.

In recent days, in response to the situation generated by the pandemic, he called "for the unity of Cubans, believers or not, who, united as one great family, will continue building the country we want and need through our own efforts; to eradicate from minds and hearts lies, hatred, evil, and envy, leaving room in them only for love, love for the Homeland, for our fellow man, for faith, and for the desire to always preserve that beautiful legacy left to us by our African ancestors."

With the Comisión José Antonio Aponte of the Uneac, he maintained fruitful working relationships. He was a pillar in the Peña del Ambia and the Miércoles de la Rumba, and a collaborator of the Casa del Caribe de Santiago de Cuba.

Our condolences to his family members, friends, and members of the religious institutions and lodge to which he belonged.