vodou and santeria: african and european encounters in the caribbean
TRANSCRIPT
Vodou and Santeria:
African and European encounters
in the Caribbean
Gerald F. Murray
Department of Anthropology
(emeritus)
University of Florida
Defining religion: Caution!
• Tendency to give “functional” definitions: – Durkheim: beliefs and practices uniting people into a single moral community
– Geertz: a system of symbols which) establish powerful moods and motivations
• Some human institutions (e.g. schools, hospitals) have “a
core function”.– People will not agree on the “core function” of religion.
• Better to give a “componential” definition of religion.
– Identify the components, the building blocks, of a religious system
– Distinguish between universal and non-universal components.
– Separate out the issue of religion’s functions. Don’t put it into the
definition.
Universal components of religious systems
• Spirit beliefs (pantheon)
• Rituals to interact with the spirits
• Specialists with spiritual authority or knowledge
“Componential” definition of religion
“A cultural system by which people• are taught about the existence and character of invisible
spirits
• engage in rituals to interact with that spirit world
• under the guidance of leaders who are believed to have
more knowledge, power, or authority to deal with the
spirits.”
Note: religions have multiple changing purposes and functions --
cognitive, emotional, social, economic, ecological, and otherwise.
Functions are not here included as part of the definition.
The concept “religious syncretism”
• A blending of religious elements from two or more traditions.
• In reality even the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam) blend elements from different traditions.
– But the blending is so ancient that practitioners are unaware, or
deny.
– The blending of traditions is more recent.
– Their religious practices are viewed by others as deviant.
• Vodou, Santeria, and other Afro-Caribbean or Afro-Brazilian
traditions combine elements principally from Africa and Europe, with
some possible indigenous elements.
• Questioning the widespread “camouflage” theory.
The African Slave Trade
The Caribbean
Some Afro-European religions
of the Caribbean and Brazil
• Cuba: Santeria, Palo Mayombe
• Haiti: Vodou.
• Dominican Republic: Baile del Espiritu Santo
• Puerto Rico: Espiritismo.
• Trinidad: Shango
• Jamaica: Obeah
• Brazil: Candomble (Batuque), Umbanda,
The Spirit Worlds of
Vodou and Santeria
• The concept of “pantheon”: the inventory
of spirits in a particular religion.
• Often called “polytheistic”, they are
actually monotheistic, dominated by a
Creator Spirit.
– Generally called “God” – Bondye or Gran Met
– Called “Dios” in popular Santeria, also Olofi
• A “Deus otiosus” – uninvolved in daily
affairs.
Anthropological encounter with
the rural Haitian spirit world
• Selection of a community
• Initial fears of the villagers
– Blan vin pran tè nou
– Blan se lougarou. La manje pitit nou.
• The rental of the dead houngan’s house
• Ceremony of welcome
Terminological dilemma:
Voodoo and Santería as put-downs
• Outsiders want nouns and adjectives for religion.
Catholicism / Catholic Judaism / Jewish
• The name “Vodou” had a different village meaning.
– A type of dance, not the name for the religion.
– “Voodoo” in English has meaning of sorcery: magical death.
• The name Santería started as a term with negative
connotations: “Saint worship”
– Scholars prefer African terms : orisha, and regla de ocha.
The spirit world of rural Vodoun
• Pantheon: Bon-Dye and the lwa
• Monotheism “Bon Dye devan – Marasa deye”
• Bon-Dye / Gran Met:
• Neither trinitarian nor christological
• Source of life and fertility
• Author of natural disasters
• Arbitrary and punitive
• Beyond reach of humans and of other spirits
Lesser spirits of rural Vodoun
• Loua (major anthropomorphic spirits)
– Danbala: the serpent
– Erzili: the female spirit
– Azaka: the farmer spirit
– Legba: spirit of the crossroads
– Ogoun : spirit of iron and fire
– Many others
• All of African origin.
• Weak association with Catholic saints
Aspects of the loua
• Male and female
• “sweet” and “bitter”.
• Friendly possessions in rituals.
• They expect music, food, drink
• Bring illness if they are neglected
• If purchased, dangerous to your child
Danbala Wedo: the serpent spirit
Ezili Freda: the mother spirit
Other preternatural beings
in Haitian folk belief
• Lé mò –dead parents and ancestors
• Lougarou – vampire
• Zombi -- the dead brought back as slaves
• San pouel: secret societies
Spirit world of Santeria: Yoruba derived
pantheon: the “santos” or Orisha
• Obatala: (Our Lady of Mercy)
• Yemaya: (Mary, Star of the Sea)
• Eleggua: (St. Anthony or St. Michael)
• Oshun: (Our Lady of Caridad de Cobre)
• Shango (St. Barbara)
• Oya (Our Lady of Candelaria)
• Ogun (St. Peter)
Las Siete Potencias Africanas
A prayer to the 7 potencias
• Así sea en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo.
• Oyeme, Changó.
• Escúchame, Okún
• Atiéndeme, Yemayá
• Mírame con buenos ojos, Obatalá.
• No me desampares, Ogún
• Seme propicio, Orula
• Intercede por mí, Elegguá
• Concédeme lo que te pido por la intercesión de las 7 potencias
africanas.
Origins of the association between
African spirits and Catholic Saints
• Dependence on Catholic iconography
• Note: the association weaker in Haiti
• A “camouflage” theory.
• A “stratified blending” theory
The rituals of rural Vodoun
• Rituals: Catholic rites of passage
• Healing rituals:
– Diagnostic: fe chapit and rele lwa
– Therapeutic: animal sacrifices, exorcisms
• Vodun dances
– Drumming
– Song, and dance
– Friendly spirit possession
A chante lwa
Pyè Danbala m se wozo (2)
M pa fatra, ya bale-m jete (2)
Jou lapli a tonbe, ma leve ma wè yo.
Stone of Danbala, I am a reed (2)
I’m not garbage; yet they’ll throw me out (2)
The day the rain falls, I’ll rise and see them
Drum rhythms of Vodoun
• Three drums for the “sweet spirits”
• Two drums for the “bitter (Petro) spirits”
• Accompany the chante lwa.
Santeria: Preparation for a ritual
to Oshun: River deity• Purpose: Goddess of love and money
• Elements: 7 day candles, yellow ceramic plate, oranges,
roses, paper fans, yellow tablecloth, small jar of honey, 5
small pastries, a letter of petition written to Ochun.
• Go to secluded riverbank. Clean the area.
• Spread out the tablecloth, put the plate in the center, with
your letter on the plate. Arrange oranges and pastries. Put
the vase of roses near the plate. Put 5 yellow candles
around the plate and the roses.
The ritual itself
• Stand and face the river.
• Hold the jar of honey and pray to Ochun for love and/or money
• Open the jar of honey and taste some with your finger.
• Pour out all the honey over the pastries and oranges on the plate.
• Light the candles
• Collect river water in the empty honey jar
• Take the water home, mix with spring water and cinnamon and boil
• Take a shower , scrub the tub clean, fill with water.
• Pour the cinnamon / river water mixture into the tub.
• Immerse yourself in the water.
• Dry yourself and light a yellow candle in your bedroom.
Santeria shrine to Yemaya:
female sea spirit
Cuban Santeria healing: for
recovery of Fidel Castro
Functions of Vodou
• Historical function: Military
• Mass media stereotypes: aggression / sorcery. “Pins in dolls”
• Ethnographic finding: major function and focus of rural Vodou: Diagnosis and healing of illness.
• Unintended function: land circulation
• Expanded urban functions: Market success, job search, romantic
Common elements and
Abrahamic counterparts
• Animal sacrifice
• Spirit possession
• Glossolalia: Speaking in tongues
Vodou, Santería, and politics
• The Haitian government
• The Cuban government
• The U.S. government
Trends
• Demonization by mainstream Chrstian clergy.
• Reverse censorship: Purging out of Christian
elements by pro-African intelligentsia
• Conversion into evangelical Christianity
• Syncretism of Vodou and Santeria in the U.S.
• Commercialization of the exotic elements.
• Romantization by scholars
Voodoo dolls on the internet:
Zombieye, Inc.
• Zombieye unique, handmade voodoo dolls are
available in four themes:
– Our red dolls bring you love
– Our blue dolls bring you luck
– Our yellow dolls bring you power
– Our green dolls bring you money
• Voodoo t-shirts and coffee mugs also available.
• Order voodoo dolls and other goods using the online form
or your credit card using PayPal.
You have to stick it to get it!
Popularized Voodoo:
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Purposes of aggressive magic
• Killing a person
• Harming a person
• Driving a person to insane behavior
• “Tying” a person
• “Selling” a person
Elements of aggressive magic
• Food and drink modification.
• Sprinkling powder
• Name and effigy manipulation
– Pictures, body parts, body liquids
• “Expeditions”: sending of mò or djab
• “Fixing” money
Notes on aggressive magic
• Has to be done by a specialist.
• Specialists (m or f) who heal can also kill or maim.
• Must be purchased spirits, not inherited family spirits.
• Spirits work on minds and bodies, not nature.
• Dangerous to lie about a targeted victim.
The prevalence of Vodou
• Vodou shares the religious stage with:
– Katolik fran
– Levanjil
• It is not “the religion of the Haitian people”
• Probably only a minority actively practice.
• Majority continue to believe in loua
• Vodou migrates to wherever Haitians go
The homicide
• Background to those involved
• The incident itself.
• The surrender and confession
• Public defender’s interest in cultural issues as
possible mitigating factors
Categories of homicide
• First degree murder
• Second degree murder
• Manslaughter
• Justifiable homicide
Murder
• First degree
– Willful
– Premeditated
• Second degree: “Murder with a depraved mind”
– Willful
– Not premeditated
– Act must be immanently dangerous.
– No regard for human life.
– Not mitigated by “manslaughter” reduction factors
Voluntary Manslaughter
• Intentional, but not premeditated plus: mitigating circumstances
• Must be “without malice”.
• “Provocation” counts if it induces anger. Fright can be accepted.
• Touchstone: it would cause a “reasonable person” to so react.
• Some courts say words will suffice if an intent and ability to cause
harm is demonstrated by the person who subsequently is killed.
Other types of homicide
• Excusable homicide: “accident and misfortune”
– When doing a lawful act with no intent to kill
– In the “heat of passion” upon sudden and sufficient provocation
– Sudden combat with no dangerous weapon
• Justifiable homicide: resisting an attempt by someone to kill you or to
commit a felony against you.
• Self defense: justified use of deadly force. Applies only to Murder 2.
Florida prison terms
• Murder 1
– Death, or:
– Life with no parole
• Murder 2
– Minimum sentence: 16 ¾ years.
– Judge can impose up to life in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
• Manslaughter
– Minimum sentence: 9 ¼ years in prison
– Judge can impose up to 15 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.