The various Bantu Faiths in Cuba developed a particular Tradition called with the general name of Palo. Palo in spanish means "stick", due to the fact that sticks, roots etc. are used in this Tradition. We should tell since the very beginning that Palo Religion has various branches, and for this reason the Bantu Cults are called "Reglas de Kongo or Reglas de Palo" (Rules of Kongo or Rules of Palo). There are many differences between those Traditions. Further informations in: An Introduction to Palo Mayombe
-Palo Mayombe or Mayombe Rule. This is almost the first Rule established in Cuba. They have only one kind of "fundamento nganga": Nsasi Siete Rayos. They deal only with nfumbe (deads) energies and are very traditional and conservative. The Batalla Saca Empenho, Mayombe Saca Mpenho, Ensala Mayombe Ngando Sese, Ensala Mayombe Ngando Batalla Congo are among the most famous "Ramas", branches of this Rule of Palo. Usually the Mayombe houses are not christianized.
-Palo Brillumba or Brillumba Rule. This sect of Palo is actually the most common. Its born from the Mayombe Rule. This Rule is syncretic and christianized. They have various kinds of "fundamentos" like Siete Rayos, Sarabanda, Madre de Agua etc. Their Ngangas contains nfumbes and Mpungu (Kongo Gods) energies. The Mpungus can be considered in a way Kongo versions of the Orishas. The Mpungus are also syncretized with Roman Catholic Saints. The term Brillumba is derived from the Kongolese word "krillumba" that means "skull". The Brillumba Rule uses bones in his fundamentos. Some Paleros believes that more than a "Regla" itself, Brillumba, is a tecnique, a manner to prepare ngangas. There's also the Billumba Rule, they are Ndoki and non christianized. They use bones too in the preparation of the nganga. Brillumba is for good and evil purposes so it's called "Briyumba Ndoki Biyaya Biyaya Sambi". The Myth says that Brillumba was born in "Kunancieto" which means Africa. The territory was called "Consecration" in the Northern Kongo Kingdom. This is the history of "Briyumba Congo Biza Cundumbo Munambe Silancongo San Quintiki Luambanza Nfinda Macondo que kuenda talanquera Engo Cheche Saravanda Saracuata Norucuon Mayombe Camino Cementerio con licencia Lucero Mpungo Mundo Nsila Camposanto que mbonda a to' los Nkita". Saravanda is the first and major Brillumba Nganga. Some Brillumba/Billumba Branches are 7 Brillumba Kongo, Vence Guerra Viramundo, Vence Guerra Acaba Mundo, , Mayaca, Siete Billumba Siete Brillumba Congo Indianda Cuaba also called Changani, Vititi Kongo, Quijenco, Monte Garavato, Saravanda Mala Fama, Paticongo Clava Clava.
-Palo Kimbisa or Kimbisa Rule. The Kimbisa Rule was almost the first to be established in Cuba by the Kongo slaves. The Kimbisa were the High Priest of the Kingdom of Kongo. Many things inside this Rule shows the evidence of its great antiquity, probably a direct descendant of the Kimpasi Secret Societies of Africa. The original Kimbisa Rule was not christianized. During the XIX Century in the two Cabildos of the Church of the Saint Christ of the Good Journey in La Havana; the Rule of the Kimbisa Order as Saint Christ of the Good Journey was developed by Tata Andrés Facundo Cristo de los Dolores Petit, Founder of the Rule and great re-organizer of the Kimbisa Order. The Kimbisa Order has elements of ALL the various faiths and religions of the Cuban soil. Santo Cristo Buen Viaje is the first and totally Cuban Religion: Palo Monte Mayombe, Abakua, Santeria, Freemasonry, Espiritismo, Voudou, Roman Catholic Church are all parts of this Order