When one first hears the word Vodou, immediately images of curses and little model dolls come to mind. We tend to synonymize it with words like sinister, evil and revenge. However, Vodou is nothing like what mainstream North American media has brainwashed people into believing. As best put by Patrick Bellegarde-Smith, “Vodou is far more than [a religion] it's a spiritual system” (Tippet and Bellegarde-Smith 145). Haitian Vodou is a spiritual system that syncretizes the practices of Roman Catholicism
with Haiti, they were also forcing Roman Catholic traditions upon the slaves. As a result, there was the birth of the religion Haitian Vodou. These enslaved Africans were not allowed to practice Haitian Vodou openly because it offended those that practiced Catholicism, the French wanted full control over the slaves in every aspect, and anyone outside of
his son and stored his bo... ... middle of paper ... ...actitioners hold dual membership in the original religious groups. It has been a common thing to recite Catholic prayers and Hail Mary before ceremonies that are supposed to be dedicated to Vodou spirits. Bibliography African Holocaust. "Vodoo: African Spiritual Religious Systems." African Holocaust. 2014. http://www.africanholocaust.net/news_ah/vodoo.htm (accessed April 2014). Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti. Performed by
Vodou is a Haitian creole word that describes an official religion of Haiti that contains bits of Roman Catholicism within its belief system. Vodou was creolized and forged by Dahomean, Kongo, Yoruba, and other African ethnic group descendents. These African ethnic groups had been enslaved and brought to modern-day Haiti, then called Saint Domingue, and were christianized by missionaries of Roman Catholicism in the 16th and 17th centuries. The word “Vodou” means spirit or deity within the Fon language
People in Haiti who practice Vodou believe that they are doing a good thing, they also believe that “the people who practice this religion are good Christians” (Michel 22). But if you were to look on the outside not speaking to the people who practice vodou, most people would see them as evil and devil worship. I am here to change that. I do not what people to start rumors about this religion I want them to understand it. They do not have to like it but they do have to understand it. As I said I
Vodou gives a method for managing the issues exhibited through magical enchantment, custom, and situational morals that rely on their own context for judgment. Contrasted with the ethical codes of Christianity into which African slaves were constrained,
religious history. With influences from African Vodou, to Christianity and Catholicism, the people of Haiti have a rich and diverse spiritual and religious background which can be witnessed in their everyday lives. Edwidge Danticat, a native Haitian writer, grew up with these influences in her life. Opal Palmer Adisa conducted an internet interview with Edwidge Danticat in the late 2000’s. The interview, Up Close and Personal: Edwidge Danticat on Haitian Identity and the Writer’s Life, was published
The Analysis of Haitian Vodou Practitioners Donald J. Cosentino, in the article, Vodou Vatican: A Prolegomenon for Understanding Authority in a Synthetic Religion and the book on Creole Religions of the Caribbean: An Introduction from Vodou and Santeria to Obeah and Espiritismo by Olmos and Paravisini-Geber. Reiterated the famous ceremonial that took place in the bois Caiman as a vigor in which helped the Haitians gained their independent from the French. Upon reflecting on the fact that Haitian’s
‘traditional’ or unscientific practices without paradox” (p. 45... ... middle of paper ... ...-1764. Retrieved from: http://stream.massey.ac.nz/pluginfile.php/984838/mod_page/content/14/Book_of_Readings/Module_6/Maori_Healer_s.pdf Ream, M. (2005) Haitian Voodoo: The possession of the spirits. Retrieved from: http://lima.osu.edu/academics/writing/WinningWorks/firstHaitian%20Voodo.htm Stoner, B. (1986). Understanding Medical Systems: Traditional, Modern, and Syncretic Health Care Alternatives in
I recently read your article titled “Vodou Imagery, African-American Tradition and Cultural Transformation in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Your article mentions how Zora Neal Hurston wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God while she was collecting folklore on Vodou in Haiti. You proceed to discuss the Haitian Vodou imagery present in the novel as well as the influence that it had. You claim that Hurston’s use of Haitian Vodou doesn’t signal a rejection of modernity, but rather an
In a number of African Traditional Religions there exists a varying sense of morality. In Mama Lola author Karen McKarthy Brown states that Vodou morality is a “survival ethic.” Brown goes further and states that morality in Vodou is tailored to the situation and to the specific person or group involved. Brown elaborates by stating that Each spirit has a moral pull, but no one spirit prevails in every situation (Brown pg.242). One of Brown's best explanations of why this is so is because there is
Lanternari. Through the lens of Lanternari Haitian Vodou can be examined. Throughout history political and ideological considerations of the West have given rise to many misinterpretations concerning the nature of Haitian Vodun. Vodun has received a reputation for being superstitious “Black magic”. Practitioners of Haitian Vodou have historically not objectified the religion as such but rather said that they “serve the spirits.” This connects to the way Vodou challenges the boundaries that the concept
seems necessary to understand the very word itself. The original spelling was “Vodun,” which is Louisiana’s derivative of the French word for spirit. The word has many other spellings, all of which were created to capture the pronunciation of the Haitians. However, many of the various spellings can also be linked to American scholars who first studied the religion. It would appear that their goal was one of two things: to spell the word in such a way that it was obvious that it was something unusual
All throughout history, the religion of Voodoo, or Vodou, has been hushed, covered up, and considered evil. This background essay will go through the history, the opinions and fears, and a few aspects of rituals. The exact history of the religion is unknown, which only adds to the ignorance and the confusion of Voodoo. Some say it came from the Italian exiles from the Italian Revolution (Hall, 1995) while others say that the origins are elusive (National Geographic). As many as four million individuals
Vodou is a religion that is often misrepresented because of mainstream Hollywood movies. It is a religion that remains an enigma to outsiders, and as a consequence, many incorrect assumptions are made about its practices. To outsiders, Vodou may seem to be based on cursing others with voodoo dolls, sacrificing animals or people, and even being possessed by the devil. However, that is not the case in Mama Lola where an outsider, Karen McCarthy Brown is given an inside view on this secretive religion
their religion for medical help, they are relying on their faith. Relying on faith partly comes from the Christianity that has been incorporated into their religious practices. (retrieved 11/14/13 from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Haiti.html) Haitian voodoo practices are beneficial not just to someone’s health, but to other aspects of their life, as well. Taking part in voodoo practices confirms a relationship between you and your ancestors, gives you a chance to reconnect with your self-history
magic, devious sorcery, cannibalism, and harm. Although the Voodoo religion appears to the outsider as an illusion or falsehood, it has been an instrumental political force because it has helped the Haitians resist domination and form an identity of their own. Since the end of the 17th century, Haitian Voodoo has overcome every challenge it has been faced with and has endured. The religion is based on a polytheistic belief system and represents a significant portion of Haiti’s 8.3 million people.
Santeria Santeria is a religion that is also called Regla de Ocha or Lucumi Religion. Cuba was mostly dominated by Whites and once the Spanish brought the Africans a new race was developed which was Mestizos. By these blending and mix combinations these races were more integrated and many of their cultures got combine and that’s how Santeria got formed. Santeria was originated from the Yoruba, which was brought by the enslaved Africans from Nigeria and Benin, which the Africans slaves focused on
Santeria and Lukumi Religions Practiced by Hispanic Carribeans Religious origins: The Yoruba religion was brought to the Hispanic Caribbean approximately four hundred years ago by African slaves during the period of conquest and colonization of the new world. The religion remained traditionally strong among the African community until the Spanish conquerors began to prohibit its practice. When the Spaniards reached the New lands they brought with them the religion of the reigning King. That
earthquake in 200 years. It had destroyed so many buildings, homes, and office buildings. Haiti has always been a target for hurricanes and disasters of the ocean. Haiti is still trying to recover from all the devastations. Due to the earthquake, many Haitians live in run down homes. Four years later, some areas look the same after the earthquake hit the country.