The religions of Santería and Vodou are examples of

the impact of tourism on the Caribbean.
the influence of Creole on Caribbean languages.
the survival of American Indian religious practices in the Caribbean.
the blending of Spanish and West African cultures in the Caribbean.

the blending of Spanish and West African cultures in the Caribbean.

The religions of Santería and Vodou are examples of the blending of Spanish and West African cultures in the Caribbean.

The religions of Santería and Vodou are examples of the blending of Spanish and West African cultures in the Caribbean.

To get the answer, we need to understand the origins and characteristics of Santería and Vodou. Santería is a syncretic religion that developed in Cuba during the colonization period, influenced by the beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people from West Africa. It combines elements of the Yoruba religion brought by enslaved Africans with Catholicism, which was imposed on them by the Spanish colonizers. Vodou, on the other hand, originated in Haiti and emerged as a result of the mixing of West African religions (mainly from the Fon and Ewe people) with European Catholicism.

To make the connection between Santería, Vodou, and the blending of Spanish and West African cultures, we can trace back the history of the Caribbean region. During the era of transatlantic slavery, millions of West Africans were forcefully brought to the Caribbean, where they encountered Spanish colonization. In this context, the African slaves had to adapt to the dominant Catholic faith imposed on them but also found ways to preserve and practice their traditional religious beliefs. These practices eventually blended with the Catholic rituals, resulting in the formation of syncretic religions like Santería and Vodou. Thus, the religions of Santería and Vodou are examples of the blending of Spanish and West African cultures in the Caribbean.