Baba Ted Guzmán was born Teddy Guzmán on May 3, 1973 at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in Jersey City, New Jersey of Puerto-Rican immigrants, Carlos Manuel Guzmán-Saldaña of Los Caños - Arecibo  and Gloría Eneida Ortiz-Fónt of Mayagüez, who both returned to Puerto Rico after meeting in the United States and were wed on July 1, 1971.

Carlos (a.k.a Papo) was a jack-of-all-trades, but was best known for his time running traditional Puerto-Rican lechoneras in the South Bronx where he spent countless hours around the clock.  Gloría (a.k.a. Goyín) was a factory worker & seamstress and spent the latter years of her life being a stay-at-home housewife caring not only for her children, but the children of the Jersey City Heights neighborhood they resided in.  She was also very much involved in her husband’s lechonera businesses.

Papo transitioned to eternal life on January 6, 2000, Día de los Reyes, and was laid to rest in his island hometown.  Goyín, an orphan at the age of 10, transitioned about 3 1/2 years later on August 10, 2004 and was cremated as per her wishes.  Her ashes are placed to rest at Flower Hill Cemetery in North Bergen, New Jersey.

Papo & Goyín leaves behind a total of 6 children, 3 from Papo’s first relationship, Marí Lú, Carlos José, & Ruben Angel, and 3 from their actual marriage, Ted, Steven & Shirley.  They were also vital in the upbringing of many other children of the family and neighborhood and were known as “Everyone’s Father & Mother.”  Ted, Steven & Shirley remain permanent residents of their childhood neighborhood while the other 3, originally raised in Puerto Rico, are scattered amongst Boston, Philadelphia & Puerto Rico. 

Shirley is currently raising two sons, Ezequiel and Triston, of whom Ted & Steven play very important roles in their upbringing, who attend the Jersey City Public Schools.  They also involve themseleves with the upbringing of their second-generation cousin, Angelika, who currently attends a private college in Southern New Jersey.  Ted, along with his siblings, attended Nicolas Copernicus Public School No. 25 and William L. Dickson Public High School.

Goyín, being raised a Roman Catholic and having worked as a hospice for ailing nuns in Puerto Rico, instilled a very religious and spiritual lifestyle in her children's lives.  They were all baptized & confirmed Catholics and received their first penance & communion at Saint John the Baptist’s Roman Catholic Church on Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City.  Ted started to contemplate a religious life and seriously considered joining the priesthood and was accepted to Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey in hopes of enrolling in their undergraduate seminary program.  After three years of attendance, Goyín fell ill and Ted was compelled to take time-off from his studies and obtain full-time employment.

Ted joined the New Jersey Army National Guard in Morristown, New Jersey for 6 years and acquired a full-time position in a major retailer which he remained for over 10 years.  His employment granted him the opportunity to live & work in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, a business sector outside of San Juan, for a certain amount of time and spark his curiosity regarding the island’s culture.

In 2001, Ted made a life altering decision, made a career change and joined the Public Schools of Jersey City to serve the children of the Jersey City community.  It was during this time Ted felt compelled to quench his thirst for knowledge in terms of his cultural and spiritual background.  He was introduced to Rebecca Moró, a Bronx-born Spiritualist of Cuban heritage and discovered his strong lineage of spirituality stemming back from both grandmothers’ backgrounds and discovered Espiritismo. 

Shortly afterwards, he also discovered Lukumi, an ancient yet civilized African religion that revered one’s ancestors and the elements of the Earth.  His discovery led to  Rebecca accompanying him to a Babalawo’s planté in West New York, New Jersey and his head being marked to be crowned Obatalá.

In 2003, Ted meets who is to eventually become his crowning godparent, Pedro Juan Matos, and is in receipt of his Elekes on October 12 and his Guererros & Olokún on October 18, 2003. 

In 2004, Ted joins the Lukumi Church of the Orishas in the Bronx and meets Obbá Lazaro Companioni, who later verifies his ruling Orisha and also discovers that Ted is an Omo Oddua.  Pedro & Lazaro, at this point, become very much responsible for Ted’s Ocha development.  In an effort to assist Ted in finally reaching Ocha, Pedro made it possible for Ted to be in receipt of the Ibeyís on September 5. 

On Christmas Eve, 2004, through the graces of his Babatobí, Pedro Juan Matos - Osá Dí, his Iyugbona, Eva Figueroa - Ochún Awá Idé, his Obbá, Lazaro Companioni - Oshúnguere, and an amazing team of Babalochas & Iyalochas from within the New Jersey and New York communities, Ted arrived at Ocha’s door and was initiated into the priesthood of Obatalá in the home of his good friend Chris, whom later becomes a godbrother initiated to the priesthood of Ochosí.

As per Obatalá’s wishes in his itá, Iyawo Ted returned to his studies in 2005 after a 13 year break and enrolled at New Jersey City University, in Jersey City where today he is obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in Literature and is expected to complete his degree by January of 2010.

During his iyaworajen in 2005, Ted founded The Iyawo Chronicles on America-On-Line© and Templo Aché Ilé Baba. 

Since then, Baba Ted Guzmán has undergone several Lukumí ceremonies and has been in receipt of various Orishas; Burumú, Orisha Okó, Ochanlá, Olosá, Orgán, Ochosí, Ideú & Ibú Aiyé and has recieved Mano de Orulá.  He most recently recieved the Babalú Aiyé clan; Babalú Aiyé, Eshú Afrá, Nanú & Naná Burukú, on February 17, 2007.

He has also initiated 2 godchildren to the Lukumi priesthood; Baba Jorge W. Leon – Aladé Oñí on July 1, 2006 & Iyawo Bryan C. Barrett on July 14, 2007.  He also enjoys educating aleyos, ogberis & iworo within the community regarding Eggún & Lukumi concepts and prides himself in moderating interactive workshops where all present are responsible in teaching and learning from one another.

Baba Ted Guzmán hopes to one day put his theories and practice regarding his experiences with culture & spirituality in print.

Baba Ted has been an active supporter of Gay Men's Health Crisis and has been an avid participant of AIDS Walk New York since 1992.

He is also a member of the National African Religions Congress - NARC World International. 

¡Aché!

¡Maferefún Eggún!

¡Maferefún Orisha!

¡Maferefún Obatalá!

¡Aché, Aché, Aché!

¡Dupue, Dupue, Dupue!