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

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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.