Ilé to Ilé

In this episode of Ilé to Ilé, Carlos and Cecilio sit down for an earlier conversation on Eggun, ancestors, spirit veneration, and what it means to honor the people and energies that came before us. We talk about the difference between ghosts and Eggun, how ancestor veneration shows up across traditions, why a glass of water and a candle can be a simple place to start, and why spiritual developmen...

In this bonus episode, Carlos and Cecilio talk through the deeper mission behind the podcast: creating space for honest conversations about faith, community, service, expectations, disappointment, and personal responsibility. What starts as a conversation about “why we’re doing this” opens into a candid reflection on trust, learning through experience, adapting within tradition, and the importance...

In this episode, Carlos sits down with Afro-Cuban artist, singer, dancer, musician, performer, and Omo Obatalá, TaDeo Asojano , for a conversation on cultural preservation, lineage, and responsibility. TaDeo shares his journey growing up inside Afro-Caribbean traditions, running from them, and eventually realizing that art, religion, and academia were never as separate as they seemed. Together, Ca...

In this episode, Carlos and Cecilio discuss one of the most important relationships in Lucumí/Ocha: the relationship between godparent and godchild. They reflect on their own experiences with godparents, elders, yubonas, and religious community — from nurturing guidance and lifelong mentorship to discipline, accountability, and learning through observation. The conversation explores what a godpare...

In this second episode, Cecilio sits down with Yomaira Garcia Chiu Ochungere — Akpon, Olorisha, author, educator, and founder of Ipadapo Productions — for a deep conversation on lineage, music, ceremony, and the responsibility of preserving Lucumí tradition. Born into the religion and crowned at two years old, Yomaira shares what it was like growing up surrounded by elders, tambor, misas, and a co...

Cecilio and Carlos sit down for the very first episode of Ile to Ile — an honest conversation between two Olorishas from different generations, different experiences, and different houses. This isn’t a class. It isn’t dogma. And it definitely isn’t gatekeeping. In this episode, they discuss: Growing up inside the tradition vs discovering it later in life What they thought they knew before initiati...