Carabalí

Carabalí refers to a diverse group of enslaved Africans brought to the Americas, primarily to Cuba and other Caribbean islands, from the Calabar region of West Africa during the transatlantic slave trade. The term was used as a general ethnic designation by slave traders and slave owners and encompassed various ethnic groups including, but not limited to, the Efik, Ibibio, and Igbo peoples. These groups originated from the Cross River region, located in modern-day Nigeria and Cameroon.

In Cuba, the Carabalí identity became associated with specific Afro-Cuban religious traditions and societies, often called cabildos. These cabildos served as mutual aid societies, preserving elements of West African culture, language, and religious practices. The cabildos provided a space for collective worship, social support, and cultural expression for enslaved and formerly enslaved people.

The term "Carabalí" itself is not an ethnic name used within West Africa. It was a label imposed by Europeans and Creoles based on the port of origin (Calabar) from which the enslaved individuals were shipped. Consequently, the cultural and religious practices associated with the Carabalí in Cuba and other parts of the Americas represent a syncretism of various West African traditions, influenced by the specific experiences and conditions of enslavement.

The legacy of the Carabalí endures in contemporary Afro-Cuban culture, particularly within certain religious practices like Abakuá, a male-only secret society with origins in the Ekpe society of the Efik people. Although the direct use of the term "Carabalí" may have diminished, the cultural contributions and historical significance of the people designated by this name remain an important part of the African diaspora in the Americas.