Source: Independent Press Association
http://www.indypressny.org/article.php3?ArticleID=1732
On September 2, 2004 Independent Press Association reported, "many [local NYC residents] are followers of la Regla de Ocha (the Rule of Ocha), the most widely-known of these religions that are often referred to as 'primitive.' Regla de Ocha is essentially the Cuban version of Santería, [a syncretistic religion of Caribbean origin]. Certain people follow La 21 División, an Afro-Dominican faith. Others, like Alex Lasalle, a Puerto Rican youth whose legacy of black blood flows beneath extremely light skin, practice Palo Mayombe, an Afro-Cuban belief system based on ancestor worship – the Puerto Rican version is known as Yombe and sometimes Sance... Regardless what the draw is for young people, it is evident that Afro-Caribbean religions have many followers within [NYC] communities and that among these followers are many young people."