In this second episode, Cecilio sits down with Yomaira Garcia Chiu Ochungere — Akpon, Olorisha, author, educator, and founder of Ipadapo Productions — for a deep conversation on lineage, music, ceremony, and the responsibility of preserving Lucumí tradition.
Born into the religion and crowned at two years old, Yomaira shares what it was like growing up surrounded by elders, tambor, misas, and a community where learning came through repetition, discipline, and lived experience. Together, she and Cecilio reflect on the changes they’ve seen over the decades: the role of the Akpon, the meaning behind the songs, the importance of spiritual development, and the difference between preserving tradition and simply performing it.
The conversation also explores Yomaira's current work through Ipadapo Productions, where she teaches Yoruba storytelling, song, meaning, folklore, and meditation — bringing the essence of Orisha tradition to communities in Miami, New York, Atlanta, and even Thailand.
This episode is a conversation about memory, responsibility, evolution, and what it means to carry tradition with integrity in a time when everything is more visible, more accessible, and often more misunderstood.
Guest: Yomaira Garcia Chiu Ochungere
Organization: Ipadapo Productions
Book: Golden Ripples
Topics: Lucumí, Orisha music, Akpones, tambor, lineage, meditation, spiritual development, Yoruba storytelling, preservation of tradition
