Babalu Aye - Appearance in Popular Culture

Appearance in Popular Culture

  • Babalú-Ayé is honored in the highly syncretic and extraordinarily popular Feast of Saint Lazarus each year in El Rincón, Cuba. The festival coincides with the feast day of the saint, but many people honor Babalú with acts of devotion and penitence.
  • The Church of the Lukumí Babalú-Ayé prevailed against the City of Hialeah, Florida, in case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993. The Court struck down a city ordinance forbidding animal sacrifice, because it targeted Santería rituals.
  • "Babalú", a song by Margarita Lecuona, was a Latin American music standard recorded by many musicians but especially associated with the Cuban singer Miguelito Valdés, who recorded several versions starting in 1939 and who was known by the 1940s as "Mr. Babalú" throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
  • "Babalu" was the signature song of "Ricky Ricardo," the character played by Desi Arnaz in the classic 1950s television series I Love Lucy; in the show the character was sometimes referred to as "Mr. Babalú.". In its sixth and final season, Ricky becomes part owner of the fictional "Tropicana" nightclub, where he was a regular performer, and renames it "Club Babalu."
  • This same song was performed in the 2008 Victoria's Secret fashion show by Jorge Moreno in the show's second segment.
  • Paul Simon makes reference to Babalu Aye in his song "Rhythm of the Saints", which first appeared on the 1990 album of the same name. The lyrics enigmatically state: "Balalu-aye spins on his crutches/ Says leave if you want/ If you want to leave." Simon also used Saint Lazarus/Babalu Aye as a character in his Broadway show, "The Capeman"
  • Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter Renato Sobral uses the nickname "Babalu" professionally.
  • The theme song of 1960s New York City radio disc jockey Bob Lewis (WABC-AM radio) was "Babalu-ay-e".
  • Panamanian singer Ruben Blades wrote a song about "Babalu-Aye" called "Obalue" (misspelling of Obalu Aye), which appears on the album Caminando. In the song, he briefly narrates the deity's origins and healing powers.
  • The group LatinXpress included "Babalu Aye" in lyrics and subtitle of their song "Meregwotimbo", on their 2003 CD "Oye" CD.
  • I love Lucy - Episode:"The ricardos visit cuba", Song title:"Babalu", Artist:"Desi Arnaz, Richard Kieth".

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