Final answer:
Orishas in cabildos are significant as they are seen as spiritual deities and protectors, integral to the religious practices of Santería, which developed among African slaves in the Caribbean.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of orishas in cabildos is that they are regarded as spiritual deities and protectors. In the context of African diasporic religions, particularly those that merged with Christian practices within the Americas, orishas are akin to the saints in Christianity, playing a pivotal role as divine intercessors, embodying various facets of the natural and spiritual realm. The orisha tradition is at the heart of Santería, a religion that developed among African slaves in the Caribbean, who synchronized their native beliefs with the prevailing Catholic practices. Orishas are not just deities but are also understood as manifestations of Olodumare or Olorun, the Supreme God in the Yoruba religion. Each orisha has distinct personality traits, areas of influence, and rituals associated with their veneration, being honored through prayers, songs, dances, and offerings within the cabildos, which were social and mutual-aid societies formed by African slaves and free people of color.