Yaremy Colone was crowned at twelve years old.
At the time, she wanted nothing to do with it.
She questioned the rules, resisted the responsibilities, and for years essentially told her mother: you did this to me, so you deal with it.
More than four decades later, her perspective couldn't be more different.
In this episode of Ilé to Ilé, Carlos sits down with Yaremy to talk about growing up inside Ocha, finding her own connection to the religion as an adult, and eventually becoming the mother, grandmother, madrina, Espiritista, and house leader responsible for guiding others.
She reflects on the decision her mother made when Yaremy was twelve and why, looking back today, she can say simply: “She saved me.”
The conversation also gets into what makes an ilé truly feel like family, the difference between guiding and pushing, learning when to let godchildren experience their own lessons, and why Yaremy believes not everyone needs to be crowned or enter every room.
Carlos and Yaremy also explore Espiritismo and spiritual development, the importance of elders and discernment, the growing publicness of practices that were once kept private, humility, tradition, social media, and what Yaremy believes is worth protecting as another generation comes up behind her.
A conversation about resistance, responsibility, family, faith, and learning to understand what was handed to you before it becomes your turn to carry it forward.
