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Afro-Caribbean Spiritualities

Afro-Caribbean Spiritualities. Many linguistic and religious traditions in Africa Dahomean (from Dahomey) Nigeria and Benin Yoruban (from Yoruba) “Slave Coast”. Historical Precursors. African Religions Dahomean Spiritual Hierarchy: Nana-Buluku Mawu-Lisa Da Vodou (gods)

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Afro-Caribbean Spiritualities

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  1. Afro-Caribbean Spiritualities • Many linguistic and religious traditions in Africa • Dahomean (from Dahomey) • Nigeria and Benin • Yoruban (from Yoruba) • “Slave Coast”

  2. Historical Precursors • African Religions • Dahomean • Spiritual Hierarchy: • Nana-Buluku • Mawu-Lisa • Da • Vodou (gods) • Legba (intermediary) • Sakpata (earth) • Sogbo (sky) • Agbe (water)

  3. Historical Precursors • Dahomean hierarchy, continued: • Nature Spirits • Ancestors • Humans • Ancestral soul • Personal soul • Divine soul • Animals • Objects

  4. Historical Precursors • The Slave Trade • Native American: • Arawak • Ciboney • Population on Haiti 60,000 in 1508, 500 in 1548 • Population on Cuba 60,000 in 1492, 1500 in 1550 • Smudging, herbal lore • European Undesireables: • Jews, Muslims, Moors, “Heretics,” Ladinos • Folk traditions • Racial Slavery “Indians Punished” 1532

  5. The Slave Trade • The African Trade • Haiti: • 1515-1730: 200 slaves per year • 1730-1792: 13,000 slaves per year • Cuba: • 1511-1788: 360 slaves per year • 1781-1865: 7,000 slaves per year Slaves on the Middle Passage

  6. The Slave Trade • Slavery Experience: • Mostly male • 8-10% died during “Middle Passage” • 8-10% died per year on plantations • ‘Breeding’ slaves a U.S. phenomenon • Female slaves after 1840 in Cuba “Punishing Slaves in Cuba” 1860’s

  7. Impact of Slave Trade • Changes to belief & ritual structure of African religions • Nature Spirituality lost • Ancestor worship lost • New level of cosmos conceptualized: Ginen • New Vodou (lwas) discovered – angry deities • Changes to system of transmission of beliefs • Old ways: 1) inheritance 2) childbirth 3) illness • New ways: adoption via initiation into lineage

  8. Historical influences in the New World

  9. Forced Christianization • Africans had no “true” religion • Conversion would make slaves accept their fate as part of God’s plan • Code Noir 1685 • Revisions to Code Noir mid-18th c.: • slaves cannot congregate except in presence of priest • Penalties for violation: branding, whipping, death • Slave owners who allow their slaves to congregate fined 100 gold crowns; second offence could be punished with life imprisonment on slave galley ships Caption (translated): Exorcism-Baptism of the Negroes.

  10. Slave Catechism • Who is the principal slave of Satan'? – the principal slave of Satan is the houngan [vodou priest]. • What are the names given by houngan to Satan? – The names given to Satan by houngan are loas [the term for the gods], angels, saints morts [venerated ancestors], and marass [the divine twins]. • Why do houngan give Satan the names of angels, saints, and morts? – Houngan call Satan after saints, angels and morts in order to deceive us more easily. • How do men serve Satan'? – In sinning, casting spells, practicing magic, giving food-offerings, worshipping les anges, worshipping marassa. • Are we allowed to mingle with the slaves of Satan? – No, because they are evil-doers; like Satan himself they are liars.” “Negro prayer meeting” 19th c.

  11. Folk Catholicism • Official Catholicism: • Baptism • confirmation • matrimony • extreme unction • Eucharist • penance • holy orders The Seven African Powers

  12. Folk Catholicism • Independent of Church control • Cult of Personages (Cult of Saints) including Mary & Jesus • God in places, objects: candles, statues, relics • God in everyday life: feasts, prayer without priestly intercession could bring God’s aid • Public religion – processions, feast days • Emphasis on death (martyrdom) • Focus on religious value of weak and downtrodden "an old-time midnight slave funeral” 1881

  13. Haitian Revolution • August 22, 1791 • Ratio of slaves:owners = 100:1 • Large numbers of escaped slaves • Boukman • Francois L’Overture • Jean-Jacques Dessalines • Republic of Haiti Nov. 28, 1803 - 70,000 Haitians, 70,000 french soldiers dead

  14. Haitian Revolution • Significance: • Republic of Haiti without Official Catholic influence for about 50 years – room for Vodou to flourish • 1791—1803, Fleeing Slave-owners go to Cuba – bring Vodou with slaves to Cuba • 1809 – banished from Cuba, Slave-owners go to Louisiana – bring Vodou to New Orleans Jean-Jacques Dessalines

  15. Spiritism • Allan Kardec (Hyppolyte Leon Denizard Rivail) • Investigation into Spiritualism • The Spirits’ Book (1857) • 3 types of souls: recently dead & impure souls; reincarnated human souls; evolved spirits of light • Many worlds of beings: earth is 3rd world; spirits of light are on 7th and highest world • God is distant from human concerns; spirits of light are closer to us, and help us • Karma governs reincarnation

  16. Spiritism • Communication via mediumship with spirits • Spirits of recently dead can communicate with us and help us • Ancestors, friends speak via spirits of light who possess mediums - blends seamlessly with African emphasis on ancestors and gods/lwas • Spiritist services are called Misa: they are seances with possession trance, messages from the dead - become major way Vodou practitioners communicate with ancestors and/or divine

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