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Gonaives: Vodou Heartland
by Claire Payton Gonaives, the largest city in the Artibonite region of Haiti, is considered by many to be the heartland of Vodou traditions in Haiti. This reputation comes in part from the presence of three prestigious temples: Souvnans, Soukri, and Bajdo. Each of these three temples preserve a different strands of Vodou tradition that …
About the Vodou Archive
The Vodou Archive: Gonaives, November 2012 Our small team of researchers came to Gonaives in November 2012 at the invitation of Oungan Michelet Tibosse Alisma in order to document Gede ceremonies and Vodou practice in Gonaives more broadly. Michelet was born and raised in Gonaives and has since relocated to Miami where he runs a …
Links
Learn more about the Vodou Archive Project The Digital Library of the Caribbean The Vodou Archive : Curating and sharing the sources of Vodou religion and culture The Haiti Lab The Haiti Lab on Facebook To learn more Haiti and Vodou, check out these books: Brown, Karen McCarthy, Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in …
Vodou Terms and Concepts
Drums/ drummers: Drum beats are used to invite the lwa to visit a ceremony. Different drumming styles and rhythms correspond to distinct Vodou traditions. It is used in conjunction with songs, dance, and prayers in the lwa’s honor. Lakou: A compound or courtyard where families live communally. Vodou temples can be associated with the lakou …