ukumí is the liturgical language of Santería, a religion formed by enslaved Yoruba people brought to the New World. With roots in Yoruba religion, Christianity, and Indigenous American traditions, Santería has been practiced since the 16th century and persists among Afro-Cuban and other communities of New York City. The Lukumí language consists of a fixed set of Yoruba words and phrases (generally pronounced with Spanish intonation), many of which are now specific to Santería practices and may not be understood by modern-day practitioners. With Santería a significant force among the city's Afro-Caribbean and Latino communities, stores like Fordham's Original Products Botanica and Bushwick's Botanica Orisha Lucumi play a vital role by selling religious products like candles, oils, and herbs to both practitioners and laypeople.