Dancing, along with singing and drumming, is a fundamental part of haitian vodou ritual ceremonies. Written by a practitioner of the highest initiatory rank, haitian vodou by mambo chita tann is the only book offering a respectful, firsthand overview of this indigenous tradition. Galembo shows us the human and divine faces and voices of real haitian vodou in a beautiful, personal, and intimate document of a fascinating and deeply misunderstood religion. Featured picture le roi dallada authored by jean baptiste joseph marie fonssagrives can be found in the new york public library. Filan is the author of the haitian vodou handbook, vodou love magic, and vodou money magic and coauthor of d. Vodou is a haitian creole word that formerly referred to only a small subset of haitian rituals. Explore the timeless world of vodou, deep within the caves of. A sketch of vodou history vodou and its antecedents are thousands of years old african religions creolize in saintdomingue, c. In march 2015, jae successfully premiered angaje at the bcas plaza. Despite cultural stereotypes that label dance as a taboo activity reserved only for religious or spiritual rituals, or the views of many who think of dance as a womens only activity, dance has managed to evolve and embed itself into the.
The haitian vodou handbook by kenaz filan overdrive. Despite cultural stereotypes that label dance as a taboo activity reserved only for religious or spiritual rituals, or the. In fon the root word for voodoo is vodoun that means spirit or god. One reason vodou is easily victimized is because little vodou sacred literature is available in published form in contrast to religions like christianity, islam, or judaism. The book covers much of the history of haiti rather than focusing strictly on the lwa and their immediate appeal although it covers them too. Again, i will say that i am not an hougan and that my expertise is in new orleans voodoo and not. Oct 28, 2011 in addition to books and articles on haitian history and culture and vodou proper, hebblethwaite also includes references to similar works by africanists on the kongo, khoisan, yoruba and specialists in other afrocaribbean cultures lucumi. In vodou, at once a religion and a way of life, is inextricably linked to haitian identity and the structure of the lakou. Vodun meaning spirit in the fon and ewe languages, pronounced with a nasal hightone u. Haitian dance is deeply rooted in the african tradition of vodou, and that word seems to scare a lot of people away from haitian culture for many people think that vodou is black magic, witchcraft, and evil. Haitian vodou by mambo chita tann an introduction to haiti. Orientation, motivation, methods, and structure of the book.
The most historically iconic vodou ceremony in haitian history was the bois. Various topics information on haitian music from classical to folk and all in between. Haiti, once called the jewel of the antilles, was the richest french colony in the new world. John michael greer, author of the new encyclopedia of the occult, a world full of gods.
Morality, power, and the vodou tradition in haiti an essay by mambo racine sans bout kathy s. Grey zombie movie list links to other voodoo or voodoorelated pages. The history of dance of the haitian people, is the expressive and healing experience of haitian vodou dance. And yet, through history, remnants of the colonialist depiction of vodouwhich, as will be illustrated through this paper, initially sought to ensure european supremacyhave been continually perpetuated through american popular culture, resulting in a wildly misconstrued. The only down side to this is that at time it can seem repetitive but all that really does is ensure you damn well know the subject through and through by books end. Embodied knowledge in haitian vodou, cuban yoruba, and bahian candomble daniel, yvonne on. It is with great pleasure we are able to provide this informative and fascinating essay for you, courtesy of mr. Haitian vodou societe tipatipa manmie toye nan lakou forjouinn jacmel7863260365 or 7864453228 duration. Take a walk through the streets of the haitian capital, portauprince, and you might spot occasional clues. The power of voodoo to impoverish and enslave a nation. The world of vodou songs the roots of vodou vodou is the hereditary spiritual tradition of african descendants in haiti jil and jil 2009. An essential aspect of this religion is the lwa, spirits, which.
The serpent and the rainbow by wade davis, secrets of voodoo by milo rigaud, the faces of the gods. Deeply connected to haitian music, dance in haiti is filled with community, emotion, spirit, and history. Around the time of the united statess occupation of haiti in 1915, african american composers began to incorporate vodouinspired musical idioms to showcase black artistry and protest white. Project muse vodou songs in haitian creole and english. Yet outside of haiti, next to no one understands this joyous and profound way of life. Embodied knowledge in haitian vodou, cuban yoruba, and bahian candomble. In haiti, a very small number of roman catholics combine their faith with aspects of vodou. Brief biographies of haitian artists with bibliographic documentation. The many different african ethnic groups crossing paths on the island when brought there as slaves by the french centuries ago, led to the evolution. The cultural place that vodou occupies today is complicated, and at first glance, almost invisible. It was the height of the summer solstice, the brightest day of what had already been a long, hot year in haiti.
Adherents also emphasize ancestor worship and hold that the spirits of the dead live. Features recent innovations and traditional roots of this potent music. This paper explores not only the ways in which haitian vodou has. Haitian folkloric dance and music are drawn from vodousecularized and. Shamanism indigenous culturesthis highly readable book will be valuable to every reader interested in haitian vodou, and essential for those who want to make the transition from intellectual knowledge to personal experience of a profound and unfairly neglected religion. Vodou is also studied from multiple theoretical approaches including queer, feminist theory, critical race theory, marxism, postcolonial criticism, postmodernism, and psychoanalysis. Th roughout the ages, vodou has been transmitted by the elders to the children. A history of haitian art a short but quite useful history of haitian art from the discover haiti page. Haitian vodou by mambo chita tann an introduction to. In haiti, a very small number of roman catholics combine their. Vodou, vodum, vodun, voodoo, or voudou fon, in benin, vodu, deity or spirit. Jan 21, 2018 vodou is a haitian creole word that formerly referred to only a small subset of haitian rituals.
Some of its followers engage in it as an actual faith and others see it. The only down side to this is that at time it can seem repetitive but all that really does is ensure you damn well know the subject through and through by books. Mar 20, 2009 the idea for this roundtable started with madison smartt bell, and a post he wrote about haitian music for the new york timess paper cuts blog i knew wyclefs music and a few other names on. The reason for that is that haitian vodou has been. Some of its followers engage in it as an actual faith and others see it as more of a cultural exercise. Haitian dress and the practice of vodou are tied together, but with the great importance of other pieces dealing with the religion such as dance, music, and songhammond pg. Vodou songs in haitian creole and english temple university press. The idea for this roundtable started with madison smartt bell, and a post he wrote about haitian music for the new york timess paper cuts blog. An introduction to haitis indigenous spiritual tradition. John michael greer, author of the new encyclopedia of the occult, a world full of gods, and the druidry.
Cuts from live vodou ceremonies are juxtaposed with performances by wellknown haitian artists, such as boukman experyans, rara machine, boukan ginen and ram. Abstract haitian vodou is an incredibly complex religion with multiple facets. The book of life, knowledge and confidence, pacific press, 2012, p. These societies also served to provide the poor with protection and solidarity against the exercising of power by the elite. Vodou songs form a profound religious and cultural heritage that traverses the past and refreshes the present. This is one of the best, most thorough and concise articles every written on this vast, mysterious and often misunderstood tradition of haitian vodou. It contextualizes both the culture and practice of vodou within haitian society and history. The name given to the folk religion of haiti, developing since the 18th cent. Both historians and haitian natives agree that voodoo, more correctly known as vodou, is an important and stigmatized religion that is distinctly and undisputedly haitian in origin and affect. The magic island 1989 1929, and the book inspired the film the white.
Dance, music, and song being the spotlighted points of interest regarding the. The history, beliefs and traditions of voodoopart iithe. From haitis culture and history, to vodous sacred beliefs, ceremonies, rituals, and practices grounded in ancestral communion, readers will get a rare look. Combining her background in dance and anthropology to parallel the participantscholar dichotomy inherent to dancings embodied knowledge, daniel. Vodou was not recognised as an official religion by the haitian state. Uncovering the lwa of haitian vodou an analysis of. In vodou ceremonies, the chef lakou see lakou network and hierarchy would act as vodou priest or priestess. For a comprehensive description of the haitian vodou religion, see the haitian consulates article on haitian vodou. Economists estimate that in the 1750s haiti provided as much as 50% of the gross national product of france.
Feb 08, 2012 haitian vodou is a fascinating spiritual tradition rich with ceremonies and magic, songs and prayers, dances and fellowship. Like many great religions, throughout its history haitian vodou has provided both solace. The author gives a basic history of haiti, goes over all the basic aspects of haitian vodou and then ties it all together in the last few chapters. Living gods of haiti, called vodou dance the meditation of the body 1983. The reason for that is that haitian vodou has been misrepresented in movies like the serpent of the rainbow and so on. As for dancing, that was a pursuit reserved for girls and masisi. In addition to books and articles on haitian history and culture and vodou proper, hebblethwaite also includes references to similar works by africanists on the. The haitian vodou handbook 2007 edition open library. Vodou bibliography 1 based primarily on an amalgamation of spirit and ancestor cults and healing traditions brought by african slaves to the new world, and secondarily on african and european forms of folk catholicism, vodou voodoo is the most popular religion among haiti 2s eight millio. In 1835 the practising of vodou was made punishable.
Dancing wisdom offers the rare opportunity to see into the world of mystical spiritual belief as articulated and manifested in ritual by dance. History of haitian dance vodou colonization yanvalou, the zepaule, shango, the petwo, and other sacred dances of the vodou religion in haiti ancient culture haitian dance is unique in its melding of diverse african styles and cultural traditions. At the same time, the twentieth century has also seen the publication of several careful ethnographic works about vodou. Vodou songs accompany organized ritual, dance, drumming, and. Vodou, a traditional afrohaitian religion, is a worldview encompassing philosophy, medicine, justice, and religion. The role of dance in haitian vodou camille chambers. Popculture distortions, in both books and films, werent far behind. A history through culture columbia studies in international and global history. The many different african ethnic groups crossing paths on the. Whether it is a cuban yoruba dance ritual, slave ring shout or contemporary pentecostal holy ghost possession dancing shout, we are able to understand the relationship with spirit through dancing with. Deeply rooted in haitis culture and held sacred by millions, haitian vodou is a. Annotated bibliography of 168 books used in the indexing work above. Vodou will illuminate that the spiritual practice transcends religion alone and should be better.
Vodou sacred sites of haiti lakou soukri danach, gonaives with spiritual leader sevite mariecarme delvas haitian vodou also written as vaudou, vodun, vodoun, and voodoo is a syncretic religion practiced chiefly in haiti and the haitian diaspora. Vodou nation examines art music by haitian and african american composers who were inspired by haitis history as a nation created by slave revolt. He knew nothing of vodous galvanizing role in haitis independence from france, the only successful slave revolt in history. Just as how the songs and the drums have a spiritual function and reflect a creolized heritage, dance holds a similar value in vodou. Download vodou in haitian memory pdf books pdfbooks. Haitian dance is unique as it displays diverse african styles and cultural traditions. Written by a practitioner of the highest initiatory rank, haitian vodou is the only book that offers a respectful, firsthand overview of the centuriesold indigenous tradition. Secret vodou societies therefore continued to be important. Perceived similarities with roman catholic doctrines such as the intercession of saints and angels allowed vodun to appear compatible with catholicism, and helped produce syncretic religions such as haitian vodou. From haitis culture and history to the sacred beliefs, ceremonies, rituals, and practices grounded in ancestral communion, readers will get a rare look inside. The voodoo drums of haiti various artists red eye music 2010. Rhythms and rituals of haitian vodun, the rada rite contributions to. History of haitian dance by cordelia leeder on prezi.
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