CLBA Founders
Our
Church Founders
Our founder, Iyalosha Carmen Plá Oni Yemaya was ordained into the Afro-Cuban Congo ancestral faith (Palo) in 1935, Havana Cuba. Her formal spiritual development began at several established temples particularly one operated by the lifelong spiritualist Ramon Pichardo. He was also her father in-law. Ramon was from Matanzas and descendent connected to the prominent author Esteban Pichardo.
Lukumi/Ayoba worship entered her life in early 40's through the Yoruba descendant priest of Shango Felix Cervante living in Luyano, Cuba. He became her spiritual godfather followed by a semi-ordination rite. Complete priesthood ordination took place in 1970, Miami, Florida. Her elder is Apetebi Ramona Ojeda wife of the late Oluwo Carlos Ojeda Osa Irete which was a founding father of Ifa priest ordinations in the USA. Carmen arrived in Miami in 1960 during Cuba's political exodus and married co-founder Raul Rodriguez priest of Obatala.
The other two co-founders are Oba Ernesto Pichardo current corporate president and Oni Shango Fernando Pichardo. Both arrived at an early age in the 60's to be reunited with their mother Carmen living in exile.
Our founder, Iyalosha Carmen Plá Oni Yemaya was ordained into the Afro-Cuban Congo ancestral faith (Palo) in 1935, Havana Cuba. Her formal spiritual development began at several established temples particularly one operated by the lifelong spiritualist Ramon Pichardo. He was also her father in-law. Ramon was from Matanzas and descendent connected to the prominent author Esteban Pichardo.
Lukumi/Ayoba worship entered her life in early 40's through the Yoruba descendant priest of Shango Felix Cervante living in Luyano, Cuba. He became her spiritual godfather followed by a semi-ordination rite. Complete priesthood ordination took place in 1970, Miami, Florida. Her elder is Apetebi Ramona Ojeda wife of the late Oluwo Carlos Ojeda Osa Irete which was a founding father of Ifa priest ordinations in the USA. Carmen arrived in Miami in 1960 during Cuba's political exodus and married co-founder Raul Rodriguez priest of Obatala.
The other two co-founders are Oba Ernesto Pichardo current corporate president and Oni Shango Fernando Pichardo. Both arrived at an early age in the 60's to be reunited with their mother Carmen living in exile.
