Haiti santeria religion books

Haitian vodou is a vibrant and fascinating indigenous tradition from the island of haiti. Aug 23, 2004 foreword magazine book of the year awards, finalist, religion 2004 choice magazine, outstanding academic book 2005 south florida sunsentinel the author, who grew up in the santeria faith, provides insight into the myths, rituals, worldview, history and cultural influence of the afrocuban religion. Regretably, at times, its a bit dry, but i like this book nonetheless. The name santeria derives from the correspondences made by some devotees between the yoruba deities called orishas and the saints santos of roman catholic piety. Vodous spirit beings are called loa or lwa and can be traced to the beliefs of the fon people of the former kingdom of dahomey now togo and benin. A master work of observation and description about the lives and rituals of the haitian mambos and adepts, and of the history and origins of their religion.

This research note reflects preliminary findings on the marketing of atrs in four locales. 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. Understanding vodou in the caribbean lonely planet. More than 80 million african and new world peoples participate in or are closely familiar with this religion. Voodoo, an africancatholic belief system practiced in haiti and other african diasporas, is also monotheistic, and involves art and the spirits of nature in worship. Amy wilentz is the author of several books, including the rainy season.

Santeria honor of the saints, a spanishyorubacatholic hybrid religion founded in cuba, teaches belief in one god served by a number of spirits. One might presume that these african religions are a small cult of sorts but this old religion is more of a phenomenal religious revival than it is not. This book is clearly the result of considerable meticulous research, and the breadth of information that it contains is stunning. Her books were largely resposible for the favorable decision made by the supreme court declaring santeria a valid religion, protected by the american constiturion. Apr 04, 2018 santeria is not an official religion and is less popular and well known than voodoo, which is the official religion of haiti and has been depicted in media and popular culture, albeit often inaccurately and in a bad light.

Not only did the yoruba people survive slavery, but the yoruba religion survived as well. Haitian vodou on apple books apple books apple apple. At the same time, the twentieth century has also seen the publication. Many contemporary practitioners refer to the tradition as the religion of the orishas or the lukumi religion, after the name by which the yoruba were known in cuba. There is no central authority in control of the movement, which comprises adherents known as. The great leftwing novel about who really controls haiti. The santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from god, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas.

Voodoo is an animist religion that consecrates a cult to loas gods and to the ancestors the cult of ancestors constitutes a system of religious beliefs and rites which are used principally to reinforce the social system as well as the dependence of the family and at the same time, voodoo spirits, guardians, deities, or forces of. By the late 1980s it was estimated that more than 70 million african and american people participated in, or were familiar with, the various forms of santeria, including traditional religions in africa, vodun in haiti, candomble in brazil, shango religion in trinidad, santeria in cuba. Racist depictions of santeria and other voodoo practices include depicting the religions as black magick and satanic. Vodou, also spelled voodoo, voudou, vodun, or french vaudou, a religion practiced in haiti. Slaved married the native peoples of the islands they were taken to and with the mixing of people the passing on of this religion. Finding a book that appeals to you and answers your questions in a way that makes sense to you is a task only you can undertake. With santeria, all of the yoruba deities became indentified with catholic saints. At the same time, the twentieth century has also seen the publication of several careful ethnographic works about vodou. In cuba, the slaves of yoruba origin were called lucumi, perhaps due to the mistaken belief that they all belonged to the ulkumi tribe, or. It arose through a process of syncretism between the traditional yoruba religion of west africa and the roman catholic form of christianity. The rituals and even the some of the saints will vary from house temple to house temple depending on the santeros or santeras priests or priestesses. Santeria may be the bestkept secret of hispanic culture.

Strongman examines haitian vodou, cuban lucumisanteria, and brazilian candomble to demonstrate how religious rituals of trance. Secrets of the yorubalucumisanteria religion in the united states and the americas. Santeria has its roots in the yoruba people of west africa. Roberto strongman, queering black atlantic religions. Yet, there is a distinct history to the use of the syncretic model for the analysis of african religions in the new world. The religion is highly modified and mixed up with the traditional voodoo which is made up of the religious traditions from the west africa and some native beliefs. Sep 15, 2009 the santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from god, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas. Gods of santeria what the bible says about santeria. Cuban santeria, haitian vodun, puerto rican spiritualism jstor. The contributors analyze the nature and liturgies of vodou, santeria, obeah, quimbois, and gaga as they form one central cultural matrix in the region.

This religion that was created out of slavery, cruelty, and the unexpected mixing of different cultures and nations has about 75 100 million followers these days. African traditional religions in the caribbean and brazil. The resulting religion is known as santeria, a blend of primitive magic and catholicism now practiced by an estimated five million americans. The religion is an informative and insightful the resulting religion is known as santeria, a blend of primitive magic and catholicism now practiced by an estimated five million americans. Apr 21, 2015 in benin and haiti, voodoo is now officially recognised as a religion. Kamerlingbrown grant high school let us know how access to this document benefits you. A common syncretic religion is vodou, which combined the west african religions of the african slaves with catholicism and some native american strands. This is further racist, colonial depiction of the beautiful and complex african religious tradition of santeria. Inside the voodoo rituals of haiti national geographic. It originated in cuba and was historically practiced by descendants of west african slaves. Interestingly, santeria is one of the fastest growing religions in the united states. This was purchased as a gift for my girlfriend, both her father and mine are believers. 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. The name was derived from the god vodun of the west african yoruba people who lived in 18th and 19th century dahomey.

The slave trade brought many africans to cuba, brazil, haiti, the southern usa, puerto rico, trinidad and other caribbean basin nations. Santeria is a religion governed by strict rules of behavior, but characterized by wide latitude of interpretation due to the individualistic nature of worship clark, 2007. Most of the yoruba in todays america, originated from what is todays nigeria, benin and togo. Alternatively, find some inspiration among the vodou cyberpunk art of the sculptors of the grand rue anything you buy here is sure to start a conversation when you get home. The impact of the french in their new colonies is directly related to the prevalence of catholicism in haiti as it was their colonial master.

Instead of associating this religion with zombies and voodoo dolls, we should perhaps take the time to better understand voodoo, and view it as a way of life or a set of guiding principles held by its believers. Haitian vodou explores this rich haitian tradition beginning with a. What is the difference between voodoo, hoodoo and santeria. In benin and haiti, voodoo is now officially recognised as a religion.

No matter your background, if you are ready to discover the secrets of this faith, get santeria. Tool of survival and a vehicle for independence in colonial haiti. Santeria became then a mixture of yoruba religion with many of the traditions of the catholic church. Then they dance until a spirit takes over their bodies. Yoruba civilization has had a significant impact on the culture and make up of latin america, in particular, cuba, haiti, brazil, trinidad and puerto rico. Through fables, rituals, prayers, and simple guidelines, philip neimark shows how we can further our personal and professinal goals by cultivating the.

If your exposure to this religion has been from seeing voodoo dolls in bad movies, i challenge you to consider an alternative. The mysterious religious cults of voodoo and santeria. Santeria is typical of what occurred so often in the coming together of different peoples with differing belief systemsthere was a combining of systems. O n an island where religion has been oppressed for the past 60 years, practicing your religious faith now in cuba seems to be a little easier.

This book has great pictures to go along with the text. Santeria is a decentralized religion with no template for ritual, symbol, or doctrine. Through fables, rituals, prayers, and simple guidelines, philip neimark shows how we can further our personal and professinal goals by cultivating. Historians conner and sparks have parsed the genderfluid aspects of. The practice santeria in puerto rico, brazil, santa domingo, all across south american, caribbean, haiti, and all over the united states. The religion is an informative and insightful examination of an african religion s survival in the new world. As the traditional belief systems of the western world cease to provide a direct emotional involvement with the mysteries of life, more and more people are turning to the throbbing of the santeria drums. List of books and articles about voodoo online research. One, requests came in for more information about the religion. Part ihaitian vodou caribbean history, haiitan vodou, haitian culture, lwa, voodoo i have decided to share a bit about the history and development of voodoo both in haiti and in louisiana in this first installment of a series of articles of voodoo culture and history. 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. That country occupied parts of todays togo, benin and nigeria.

Instead of associating this religion with zombies and voodoo dolls, we should perhaps take the time to better understand voodoo, and view it as a way of life or a set. Rediscovering vodou as a tool of survival and a vehicle for independence in colonial haiti. In the early 18th century, practitioners combined their masters pantheon of catholic saints with their own spirits, the orisha. Surrounding and permeating everything is the spiritual force, energy, known as ache. Surviving and thriving underground um religion experts discuss how afrocuban religions have survived and evolved from its early roots in the slave trade to the cuban diaspora. Haiti, for much of its history and including presentday has been prevailingly a christian country, primarily roman catholic, although in some instances it is profoundly modified and influenced through syncretism. They number in the hundreds and include many analogues of the orishas. The way of the orisha, by philip johb neimark written by an avid student and acomplished practioner, the way of the orisha provides an exhilarating introductin to the orisa, the powerful messenger spirits who act as our personal guardians. I find it useful to help me learn about the intriguing religion. Rediscovering vodou as a tool of survival and a vehicle for independence in. I recommend this book, an excellent read for those who want an understanding of santeria. Apr 25, 2017 the religion is highly modified and mixed up with the traditional voodoo which is made up of the religious traditions from the west africa and some native beliefs.

In haiti voodoo believers pray and perform animal sacrifices to feed and beckon the spirits. Sacred possessions is an unprecedented collection of thirteen comparative and interdisciplinary essays exploring the crosscultural dynamics of africanbased religious systems in the caribbean. A unique mixture of afrocuban religious rituals or. Foreword magazine book of the year awards, finalist, religion 2004 choice magazine, outstanding academic book 2005 south florida sunsentinel the author, who grew up in the santeria faith, provides insight into the myths, rituals, worldview. Initiation, rituals, ceremonies, orishas, divination, plants, s. This combination now forms the deities of the contemporary santeria religion. The basis of the santeria religion is the nurture of a personal.

Difference between santeria and voodoo difference between. It is an accurate and engaging account of one of the most. It is a religion of trance, mystery, posse ssion, blood and sex. Santeria is not an official religion and is less popular and well known than voodoo, which is the official religion of haiti and has been depicted in media and popular culture, albeit often inaccurately and in a bad light. It is an amazing and colorful spiritual tradition comprised of ceremony, music, dances, prayers, magic, and community. Unfortunately, this religion attracts a great deal of fanatics and people of the lower classes, many of them with an ax to grind. No one could write this book better than migene gonzalezwippler. Visions and voices of haiti the spirits and the law. Voodoo in haiti is a masterwork of observation and description by one of the most distinguished anthropologists of the twentieth century. Bibliography this is an impartial listing of books, with no specific endorsements or recommendations. Thus voodoo is indigenous of haiti, santeria of cubans and macumba of brazilians. The religion is an informative and insightful examination of an african religions survival in the new world. Santeria is often mistakenly depicted as an evil religion that worships demons, engages in bloodthirsty rituals and seeks to do evil on others. 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.