San Lázaro (Eng: Saint Lazarus) by Celina y Reutilio is one of Cuba’s most moving yet vibrant and rhythmic tributes to faith and healing. Rooted in Afro-Cuban tradition, the song calls upon San Lázaro – syncretized with the Yoruba deity Babalú Ayé, protector of the sick and poor. When African slaves were brought to Cuba, they were forbidden from practicing their native religions, so they syncretized their deities with Catholic saints to preserve their spiritual traditions in secret. Its repetitive chants and invocations create a trance-like devotion, reflecting how music and prayer often merge in Cuban spiritual life. The song evokes the figure of Lazarus, both the resurrected man from the Bible and the humble beggar of Cuban folklore who walks with crutches and two loyal dogs. Through these images, the song becomes a meditation on suffering, compassion, and divine mercy.
Celina González and Reutilio Domínguez were pioneers in fusing traditional Cuban son with sacred folk elements, creating songs that resonated with both the dance floor and the altar. Their partnership, musical and romantic, flourished in the 1950s, when songs like “San Lázaro” and “A Santa Bárbara” made them household names across Cuba and much of Latin America. In Colombia – especially along the Caribbean coast – the duo’s music was embraced for its raw spirituality and infectious rhythm. Celina’s passionate voice and Reutilio’s earthy guitar style captured the soul of rural Cuba, giving their devotion a universal pulse that still feels alive in every corner where faith and music meet.
References:
1. Celina & Reutilio – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
had me, even without knowing a word, fantastic beat
I love the jangly saloon like piano playing that comes in. This song is for the world-music archives for sure.