Oloyou

by Teresa Cárdenas, Margarita Sada (Illustrator), Elisa Amado (Translator)

Oloyou the Cat, the very first creature that the God-child creates, is also the very first friend. God-child and Oloyou play together for hours on end, until one day the cat falls into the void and lands in the dark, featureless, sea kingdom of ferocious Okún Aró. Oloyou is terribly lonely until he meets Aró’s mermaid daughter and falls madly in love. Infuriated, the father flings the pair into the heavens, where they become an everlasting part of the night sky. This imaginative tale, sparked by the author’s mesmerizing text, is the perfect introduction to the vibrant Santería/Yoruba culture.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 2008

About the author

Teresa Cárdenas Angulo is a writer, poet, and dancer who was born in Cárdenas, Matanzas, in 1970.

She is a member of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).

Her book accomplishments include:

Cartas al Cielo: David Prize, 1997;

Hermanos Saiz Association Prize, 1997;

National Critics Prize, 1998.

Tatanene Cimarrón: Ismaelillo Prize, UNEAC.

Maldito Solar: Delia Carrera National Poetry Competition, Second Prize, Matanzas, 1998.

Cuentos de Macucupé: La Edad de Oro Prize, 2000.

She has also had poems included in anthologies in Spain, Italy, and the United States.

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in Spanish with the English translation, Cuban priestess, story teller, and dancer Teresa Cárdenas retells a Yoruba creation myth. God’s first creation is a cat, Oloyou, who falls in love with a mermaid, Kandili. Kandili becomes the night sky bedecked with stars and Oloyou a glowing comet that travels the universe. Mexican artist Margarita Sada gorgeously illustrates the cat in this child’s book. A good book for bilingual readers to read to their children and introduce them to the Santería religion. My cats heartily meowed their approval of the selection of God’s first friend.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't as personally captivated by this story as I hoped to be, but it is still beautifully told with lovely illustrations and is a very worthy story about how the comet came to be in the sky. I also love that God created the cat first--how perfect ;-) The tale is from Yoruba mythology and I'm not really clear if this particular version is more Cuban or African influenced but that doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the story.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Yoruba-Cuban myth concerning God-child, and his creation of Oloyou the cat, is beautifully retold in this bilingual English-Spanish picture-book, with text by Cuban author Teresa Cárdenas, and illustrations by Mexican artist Margarita Sada. In the very beginning, when the universe was still unformed, and God-child was lonely and bored, he created a fluffy white companion, a creature who was "soft and loving, and ... never tired of playing nor of having its back rubbed." But when Oloyou falls into Nothing, in the course of play, and finds himself in the vast, watery kingdom of Okún Aró, the first feline is soon falling in love with the Infinite Sea's lovely daughter, Kandili. Will Oloyou and Kandili find a way to be together? Or will bitter old Okún Aró manage to keep them apart...?

I simply adored this gorgeous picture-book, from the story itself - Yes! The cat was the first creature created! My love of all things feline is validated! - to the beautiful illustrations, which manage to emphasize Oloyou's fluffy cuteness (and vivid blue eyes!) in some scenes, and the creepy darkness of Okún Aró's kingdom in others. I haven't read much Yoruba mythology, and had never encountered this story before, so am unable to say how similar or dissimilar this Cuban variant is, to the "original" African version. In fact, that was rather unclear: mention is made, on the front dust-jacket flap, of Santeria, and the influence of African stories and culture on Cuba's development, but no further information as to the source of this story is given, which is rather frustrating. Still, I will be keeping an eye out for more from this talented author and illustrator! Definitely one I recommend to all who enjoy a good myth, or appreciate beautiful picture-book art!

[Tina Lilian Azevedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pequenos contos que contém ricas histórias de pessoas escravizadas em Cuba. Lá como cá a luta pela sobrevivência foi a mesma pois o ser humano resiste e insiste em manter sua humanidade em face daqueles que tentam lhes roubar a existência. Teresa Cárdenas é uma voz com uma visão lúcida e amorosa a todos que desejam refletir sobre os atos sombrios praticados pelos europeus em sua sanha gananciosa contra os africanos. É o terceiro livro que leio da autora e a lerei novamente.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations were lovely. An odd little book.
I was interested in peeking into a different culture. Unexpected story!
I would have enjoyed it more if I'd studied Spanish at any time, I am sure, because the book was bilingual.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nobody's actions make sense, but I suspect that is not the point of creation myths; still it leaves me on the outside. It's refreshing that children and cats and comets are the stars (har) of this story, but alas didn't do the trick (of letting me in). Thank you for the two languages on the same page; the translation is graceful.

[Rogelio Abelard · Rating 5 out of 5]

had references to santeria. tight.

[Elizabeth]

This is a retelling of a Yoruba myth, retold by a Cuban woman in Spanish and English, with the humanoid characters illustrated as distinctly Black.

I'm not sure quite what the target age range is, since there's sort of a lot going on in the story.

The illustrations are very good.