# Rising Interest in Afro-Caribbean Religions Among NYC Youth September 02, 2004 Source: Independant Press Association On September 2, 2004 *Independant 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." See also:- [ Youth ](/news-stories/youth) - [ Holidays/Worship ](/news-stories/holidaysworship) - [ Afro-Caribbean ](/religions/afro-caribbean) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)