My Life Before Me
My Life Before Me is a documentary short about the life of Afro-Cuban folkloric musician and Lukumi (Santeria) priest Carlos Lazaro Aldama Perez.
Carlos’s life has been dedicated to his cultural music and religion. His story illustrates the idea that culture is a living thing; it is not limited by geographical borders, but exists within people and thrives on social exchange. The film explores how African traditions survived slavery and how they are now thriving two centuries later not only here in California, but all over the world. His life also highlights how nationalism in post-revolution Cuba brought a wider acceptance of African ancestry, and allowed for the emergence of Afro-Cuban pride, ultimately leading to a renaissance of African Diaspora religions.
Directed by
Banker White
documentary short