Andrés Petit
Andrés Petit
Andrés Petit
during the mid 1800s. He is also credited with saving Abakua by admitting the sons of politically
connected whites for essentially the cost of the rituals, and alternately by those opposed to his decision
with having sold the secrets of that tradition for profit. The rest of his life and actions, such as can be
confirmed tend to present him as an altruistic and seriously spiritual individual, making the claims that
he sold initiations for profit unlikely.
While some Kimbisero's practice includes reference to the Yoruban traditions, that of others does not.
Indeed, while some claim that Petit was an initiate of the Yoruba religion in Cuba, the only story of his
life which references that faith has a somewhat adversarial quality. All Kimbiseros make use of a
bilingual liturgy (Spanish and KiKongo) and there are elements associated with the Abaku, Spiritism,
and Freemasonry integrated into ritual and philosophy. The 14 oaths that the neophyte must swear to in
his initiation are reminiscent of both Freemasonry and the Abaku, and there are other elements of the
initiation ritual which bear a close resemblance to that of the Masonic initiation.
silent on the matter. No small numbers of Kimbiseros today and in the past have themselves been
Freemasons.
Cabrera and Tato Quinones both dedicate some significant space to Petit in their respective books on
the Abaku Secret Society.