Afro-Cuban Religions and Social Welfare: Consequences of Commercial Development in Havana

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the government of Fidel Castro has struggled to provide Cubans with health care, adequate housing, and Social security. Decision making about these issues has been decentralized to involve the public activity of community self-help groups, especially in Havana’s most marginal zones. Many such groups are rooted in Afro-Cuban religions, which since slavery times have operated as underground hubs of mutual support. Based on 18 months of fieldwork, three religious communities are examined as they build tentative relationships with state development institutions. Resulting projects set out to improve the quality of life of participants, but these aspirations become obscured as the projects seek quick returns from the burgeoning tourist market. The case studies show the strong impact of “informal religion” on specific projects and suggest that responsibility for balancing commercial and community interests lies both with state and civil society actors in their cap...