This article explores the spiritual dimension of the haitian earthquake of january 12, 2010, and argues that some of the quakes most profound reverberations occurred at the level of the spirit. Murray o ins haitian folk religion h ere i s an interesting analogy between the reaction of the outside world to the popular language of haiti on the one hand and, on the other, to the popular religion. Misconceptions about voodoo have given haiti a reputation for sorcery and zombies. Voodoo brings solace to grieving haitians while most haitians say they are catholic, many practice a faith mixed with voodoos tenets of spirit worship and reincarnation. A sorbonnetrained chemical engineer, max beauvoir followed his grandfathers dying wish to become a voodoo priestand was instrumental in helping haiti avoid invasion by u. His books include voodoo, the history of the incas and easter island. Eightyplus brilliant color photographs are accompanied by captions and essays from experts of voodoo, or vodou, the dazzlingly symbolic spiritual tradition. Voodoo in 1953, alfred metraux wrote voodoo in haiti in 1959 and harold. Haitian churches are always full and participation in vodou ceremonies is always well. The contest over the spiritual meaning of the 2010 earthquake in haiti claire payton abstract. In his book voodoo in haiti, alfred metraux writes, what is voodoo. Voodoo in haiti metraux, alfred, charteris, hugo on. That is why it is so good to come across a work like this, which dispels the myths and presents voodoo as not just as a religion but virtually a alfredd of life.
The power of voodoo to impoverish and enslave a nation pdf the 21stcentury mission. In earthquake aftermath, haitians cling to voodoo, faith. Voodoo believers are most numerous in haiti, where voodoo was granted official religious status in 2003, and in benin, where the religion has had official recognition since 1996. Read haitian vodou books like hadriana in all my dreams and voodoo hoodoo spellbook for free with a free 30day trial.
Pdf i, pencil pdf the unique role of the local church in developing a flourishing community pdf england before and after wesley pdf haitian voodoo. In april 1997, thirteen scholars gathered at the university of california santa barbara for a colloquium on haitian vodou. In earthquake aftermath, haitians cling to voodoo, faith the devastating earthquake in haiti left thousands of people homeless and struggling to find shelter and food. Haiti, like most of the worlds poorest nations, suffers from a complex web of progressresistant cultural influences. This is buttressed, in part, by the frequent appearance in popular culture of the imagined religion of voodoo. His work and interests, however, ranged widely into other fields and other geo. Loukman bilal he is haitian and i think he is one of the people who started claiming bookman was muslim. I conclude that great powers, especially france, had a decisive negative impact on haiti development through military oppression and. Bob corbett march 1988 important note first and foremost voodoo is a religion. Download voodoo in haiti by alfred metraux files tradownload.
In his 1959 study of vodou, alfred metraux described how the flags are. Winner of the 20 national book critics circle award for autobiography. Voodoo in haiti, one of his two books on that islands culture, presented voodoo as a structured, complex religious system, examined its african origins, and showed its relation to roman catholicism in haiti. From that meeting the congress of santa barbara was created, also known as kosanba. Voodoo in haiti by alfred metraux and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Alfred metraux has written a rich and lasting study of the lives and rituals of the haitian mambos and adepts, and of the history and origins of their religion. Haiti, once called the jewel of the antilles, was the richest french colony in the new world. Download professional cross platform mobile development in c by scott olson bestgfx from 50 mb, graphicriver photorealistic poster mockup in paris by night mediafire rapidshare torrent download from 444 mb free from tradownload. In 1797, a voodoo priest performed a ceremony at bois caiman in the haitian mountains. Voodoo in haiti is a masterwork of observation and description by one of the most distinguished anthropologists of the twentieth century. Many of the practices and descriptions of voodoo belief may sound to us like rank superstition, but then, imagine the beliefs of christianity to people who know nothing about it.
While scholarly arguments have been advanced for why this is untrue, vodou is persistently plagued by a poor reputation. Although, as polk documents, there is evidence that flags belong. Voodoo in haiti and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. It is an accurate and engaging account of one of the most fascinating and.
Alfred metraux 19021963 alfred metraux died in paris on april 12, 1963. List of books and articles about voodoo online research. Other notable early scholars of haitian vodou one could cite are milo rigaud, alfred metraux and maya deren, for example. Thus, the real source of voodoo is the egyptian pyramids. Some writers have said that the word hoodoo is a corruption of the word voodoo, but that seems highly unlikely. Louis martinie, cards by sally ann glassman probably the best from a practioners pov. Vodou, also spelled voodoo, voudou, vodun, or french vaudou, a religion practiced in haiti.
Economists estimate that in the 1750s haiti provided as much as 50% of the gross national product of france. Introduction to voodoo in haiti by bob corbett, march 1988. I decided to use it here and then revise it partially on the basis of the responses to it. Farewell, fred voodoo is a spiritual journey into the heart of the human soul, and haiti has found in amy wilentz an author of astonishing wit, sympathy, and eloquence.
It is an accurate and engaging account of one of the most fascinating. Vodou is a creolized religion forged by descendents of dahomean, kongo, yoruba, and other african ethnic groups who had been enslaved and brought to colonial saintdomingue as haiti was known then and christianized by roman catholic missionaries in the. Haitis voodoo high priest has claimed believers have been discriminated against by evangelical christians who are monopolising aid sent to the earthquakestricken country. There is the influence of the voodoo religion, which. Alfred metraux, cosmopolitanism, atlantic world, haitian vodou. Whereas our modern scientific understanding of dreams remains largely incomplete, it is evident that dreaming is a universal phenomenonand, as such, is addressed within religion.
Unesco marbial valley haiti anthropological survey from 1948 to 1950. Alfred metraux voodoo haitian vodou neurosis scribd. Politics and religion in haiti 403 article, vodoun and politics in haiti. Roman catholicism is the official religion of haiti, but voodoo may be considered the countrys national religion. Introduction to voodoo in haiti webster university. In the first place, voodoo is a west african religion that was transplanted to haiti see below and hoodoo is a system of primarily central african magical belief and practice. The word vodun the haitian word voodoo comes from the african fon language which is still spoken today in benin. Alfred metraux 19021963 has written a rich and lasting study of the lives and rituals of the haitian mambos and adepts, and of the history and origins of their religion. Here you can find voodoo in haiti by alfred metraux shared files.
Metraux meticulously collected artifacts and documents from different cultures, and. Islamic influnces on haitian voodoo some notes received on bob corbetts email list january 1, 1999. The power of voodoo to impoverish and enslave a nation. The history of voodoo does not start, as many people believe around 1500 ad in haiti, but about 15,000 years before christ in africa. He emphasizes the unifying function which voodoo has played in the past,4 although he is quite certain that it is today a generally reactionary force.
Introduction to voodoo in haiti hartford web publishing. Voodoo in haiti is a masterwork of observation and description by one of the most distinguished. Most voodooists believe that their religion can coexist with catholicism. Descriptions of various loa of voodoo compilation from class assignments, spring, 1990. A comparative analysis of christian and haitian vodou dream traditions. He was, in my opin ion, the worlds foremost authority on the south american indian. The majority of haitians believe in and practice at least some aspects of voodoo. This ceremony prefaced a slave revolt that lasted until 1804, and the people of haiti fought armies from spain, france and britain. Alfred metraux took his own life by an overdose of barbiturates. Vodou is frequently invoked as a cause of haitis continued impoverishment. It is an accurate and engaging account of one of the most. Alfred m traux 19021963 has written a rich and lasting study of the lives and rituals of the haitian mambos and adepts, and of. Characterized by protruding eyes and a bad humor, lives under the mombin tree near a spring and is very fond of vermouth, rum, and cognac. Alfred metraux slightly dated, a good source religious rites of the caribbean.
1136 1288 1510 1507 447 94 689 1051 49 789 311 1558 1516 389 451 1510 1310 1062 112 57 1490 639 412 1618 1020 1497 1044 147 533 960 200 1039 686 262 551 1412