Vodu and „Magic“ Petwo & Rada-Cults Petwo (petro) • Aggressive • Hot • Linked to Revolution • New World origin • Rum is used in cults Rada-Cult • Balancing • Cool • Linked to the African homeland (Ginen) • Arada / Allada, the Dahomean holy city • Water is used in cults Petwo & Rada-Cults Spiritual world of Vodu • Bondye (Dye Bondye = Dieu bon dieu) • Lwas (mysteres) • Ancestors (les morts) • Other spirits The Vodu-“Temple“ (ounfo/hounfor) • House of the leader of the cult • Cult group = one family • Head of the cult = mambo (priestess) &/or oungan (priest) • Initiated members = Ounsi (children of the house) The Vodu-“Temple“ (ounfo) • Countryside ounfo are normally farms • A couple of buildings • Home for the mambo/oungan and their family • Buildings for the lwa (decorated with vever (vévé), the symbbols for the lwa • Trees & plants, animals • Poorer ounfo only one building Altars in Haitian Vodu • Objects connected to the lwa • Tureens, trays and bottles • Pictures and statues of catholic saints • Candles, stones & the like • Toys for the twin deity Marassa • Ritual dress • Basin for water spirits Altars in haitian Vodu Altars in haitian Vodu Altars in haitian Vodu Altars in haitian Vodu Altars in Vodu Altars in Vodu The Peristil • The room, in which feasts & festivals take place • A terrace with a roof • Poteau mitan, the middle pillar • Connects lower, middle & upper world • The lwas use this poteau mitan to travel to the peristil • Example for the concept of „axis mundi“ The Peristil The Peristil The drums • Are kept in the peristil • Rada-set: 3 drums with one head attached – Pitit (from „petit“) – Segon (from „seconde“) – Manman (the mother) • Petwo.set: Congolese drums, – in petwo-rites also a whip is used • Other rhythmic devices: – Asan (ason) calabash with beads & bones – bells A set of Rada-drums Ason Differences between cult-houses • Every center is autonomous • No scriptural fixation of tradition • Adaptability of west-african traditions to changing historical, cultural & social circumstances & settings Healing Ceremonies • More important in everyday life than the more spectacular features of the religion • Healing ceremonies partly responsible for commonly held image of Vodu as witchcraft & sorcery • Marriage to a lwa • Divination to find out cause of illness Healing Ceremonies • Trétmen (treatment): – Meal for hungry spirits – Ritual bath – Making a pwen (point) • Focussing of the person‘s problem • Object linking to the cause of problems • Sympathetic symbolising of the situation • Symbolic change of the situation • Context of the concept of the „voodoo doll“ Zombies • Ti bonanj: little good angel: conscience • Gwo bonanj: personality of a given person • Lwa met tet: the lwa, master of the head = personal guardian angel • After dead, connection between gwo bonanj & lwa met tet has to be resolved ritually • Sorcerer can transform the gwo bonanj into an evil spirit Zombies • The living dead • Bodies taken from the grave by the sorcerer (Boko) • Because the gwo bonanj has already left the body, the Zombie is revived without personality • Is used for hard labour, a working machine without a soul The lwas • Hundreds of lwas in Vodun • Origins: – West Africa – Central Africa • Some, like the Gede, organised in groups • Vévé (vever): drawings of corn meal, flour or gunpowder to concentrate the energies of the lwa • Lave Tét (washed head): Initiation ritual • Kouche, as described by Katherine Dunham Kouche (receiving the lwa mét tet) • Kouche = to be laid on the floor • Calling by the lwa (dream or mediumistic experience) • Manifesting of the spirit in possession trance: ounsi bosalle (wild ounsi) • From ounsi bosalle to konesans (from conaissance, knowledge) • Washing of the head: ounsi lave tet • Time of Instruction (up to years) Kouche: grades of initiation • Ounsi bosalle • Ounsi lave tet • Ounsi kanzon: marriage with the lwa • Oungenikon: song master, leading the invocations in the ceremonies • The initiation does not only serve the benefits of the individual ounsi, but also the community (the ounfo) through ritual dance Kouche: the Ritual • Gathering of items needed for Ritual, special items related to each lwa • No exchange of money, but much spending • Inititiation for ounsi lave tet takes place in djévo, a sanctuary room • 3 days ceremony • Separating gwo bonanj from the person • Pot tets for the gwo bonanj Kouche: preparing the pot tét • After preparation of the pot tet, the ounsis promenade with their pot tet on their heads Maya Deren (Eleonora Derenkovskaya, 1917-1961) • Aizan Velekhete (Ayizan Avlekete) • Represents the "female principle • Important role in inititiation ceremonies • Personal Lwa of Jean-Jaques Dessalires The gede-family of Lwas Baron Cimetiere (bawon) Manman Brijit Baron Samedi The gede-family of Lwas Baron Cimetiere (bawon) The gede-family of Lwas Manman Brijit (Brigitte) Danbalah & Aida Hwedo (Ayida Wedo) The snake Lwa, the divine serpent Grand Bois (Gran Bwa) Vegetation & forest Legba Ati-bon The first Lwa called at at all ceremonies Invocations to Papa Legba Open the road for me, Legba, I want to pass through Open the road for me Papa Legba, I am here Open the gate for me Master Legba, I want to get in Maraca Dosou (Dosa); Marasa The primordeal couple, the twin deities Ogou Several Ogou Ogou Sen Jak Majé Ogou Panama Erzulie / Ezili Female Lwa of love; Virgin Mary Simbi A congolese family of water spirits Simbi Dlo, Simbi Andezo Simbi pwen has special magical ability: nkisi Petwo Simbi: Simbi Anpaka, Simbi Ganga, Simbi Makaya