The Plot

Afro-Cuban folk tales are explained by Eleggua, an orisha himself. He is the Keeper of the Crossroads and a messenger from the orishas to mankind. Eleggua warns the audience that the orishas are coming to America.
Eleggua starts with Creation, a story with obvious parallels to Judeo-Christian teachings. The Orishas, demi-gods of the Nigerian Yoruba people, were created from stones. As each orisha is introduced, a dancer representing that orisha, wearing colors, numbers and other symbols, dances across the stage.
Ricky Ricardo's "Babaloo" was a song about Babalu Aye, the orisha in charge of disease and healing. Eleggua introduces Yemaya last. Frances Tease sings the flowing, wavelike song "Yemaya" while dancers interpret the music. Since Yemaya is the goddess of the seas, she performs a hula-based dance.
The most popular orisha is Chango. The god of lightning, thunder and virility is introduced through a song of his own, "Here Comes Chango" sung by Frances.
Eleggua begins telling the patakies, folk tales about the orishas, beginning with Chango's birth and how he came to be raised by Yemaya. Chango learns that he is adopted and he goes to find his real father, Aganyu, the orisha of the volcanoes. Aganyu denies his son, fearing the wrath of Obatala, the head orisha.

Chango grows up, reconciles with his birth and adopted parents, meets Obba and gets married. Frances sings a duet with Xavi Calvera, "You Are," while the orishas representing Chango and Obba waltz together.
Eleggua continues telling the legend of Oshun and Chango, a most passionate affair. Frances sings "This is the Love."
Oshun was jealous of Chango's wife, Obba, and she persuaded Obba to cut off her right ear and serve it in a soup to Chango. As a result, Chango could no longer look at her. He leaves her home, but she remains his wife in name. The plaintive "Pain of Heart" expresses Obba's anguish.
In the next tale, Chango learns that his brother Oggun, god of metals and war, has done the unthinkable ­ commited incest with their mother. Frances sings "Forbidden Love."
Chango steals his brother's wife. Then Chango, with his double-edged ax, fights Oggun with his ready machete and the dancers act out the scene. Oya, the purloined wife, interrupts the fight just as Chango is about to kill Oggun.
The audience has a ten-minute intermission before the show resumes with a song about Eleggua.

When Oggun was defeated, he left, Eleggua explains, taking all metal and knowledge of metalworking with him. Mankind and the other orishas wanted him back, but all their pleas seemed to be in vain. Oggun would not return. Finally, Oshun baits Oggun with her beauty and he dutifully follows her back to the world of the living. But now, Oggun had the hots for Oshun. Remember the passionate affair with Chango? Frances Tease's soulful rendition of "Jealousy" fits in here.
Eleggua tells the story of the second fight between Chango and Oggun. Obatala intervenes, coming down between the combatants in the form of a white dove.
The show has a surprise ending in which Eleggua introduces his best friend, Babalu Aye. The song of the same name leaves audience members tapping their toes and singing along.
Eleggua and Babalu Aye explain about the orishas and how the Yoruba people, brought to Cuba in slavery, kept their religion by disguising their orishas as Catholic saints.
The title song ends the show.