by Karen E. Quinones-Miller

Today it is not unusual to find African-Americans who know about Orisa, know someone who practices Orisa, or have at least heard of the tradition. But there was a time – just a few generations ago – when this was far from the case.In the 1950s and 1960s there were only a handful of American blacks who bucked the general African-American belief that anything that was not Christian was evil.Edward James – Shango Lari — was one of those people.

Eddie James – as he was affectionately called – was physically a big man; he was soft-spoken, always smiling, always with a cigar, and always had a kind word and piece of pertinent information to share.

Born on August 25, 1930 in New York to Catholic parents, James was interested in theology since his early teens, according to his former wife, Pauline James. “That was his calling,” she said, adding, “and he was brilliant.”

Not only did he study all aspects of Christianity, but also Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Wicca, said his eldest son, Raj Ananda James (Eni Ewe).  “And believe me, he didn’t just have a passing knowledge of all these systems,” Raj said proudly, “he had a working knowledge.”

Chris Oliana (Oba Ilu Mi ibaye) – a good friend of James – was with him when James traveled to Cuba and received ase on September 6, 1959; making him the first African-American to be initiated Shango.

Although he only made two heads — Alfred Davis (Omi Toki ibaye) in 1964 and Beatrice Adderly (Omi Dina) in 1965 – he quickly became known as one of the most knowledgeable people in Ocha, and was frequently sought out for diloggun readings by both alejo and priests.

“He was a helluva Santero, and was very, very strict about protocol,” recalls Adderly. “He wasn’t the type of priest who just said, ‘Oh, just let it go…’ For him, it was, ‘If it’s an A, then let it be and A.’ He didn’t change things for convenience.”

In the early 1980s, James traveled to Nigeria and became a babalawo. As a result, people often traveled from various parts of the country to seek his advice and guidance. Though he was not a night owl, he never complained when someone called him in the wee hours of the morning to seek his counsel.

Eddie James was the kind of person people felt they could talk to because “he really listened,” said Kathleen “Kitty” Quinones (Yomi Yomi), who knew James all her life. “Some people will hear what you’re saying, but they won’t really listen. Eddie James, he would listen.”

James died of prostate cancer in 2001. He is survived by his two sons; Raj and Hari Aman James (Oshi Ilu).