#3557: Culture Vulturism: another view (fwd)

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From:Racine125@aol.com

<< Just a few words about initiations: they are costly. The prices vary 
 according to very many factors and they are never spelled out since, like I 
 said before, they are set by the Spirits. Furthermore reputable hounfò 
aren't 
 marketplaces and there is no bartering; the same applies when shopping for 
 sacrificial animals or any ritual objects. >>

Well.... not exactly.  Initiations cost money, BUT!  Some houses are 
exhorbitant, some are not, some get their initiation in exchange for 
services, such as drumming, and some get their initiation because the Houngan 
or Mambo is just starting out and needs hounsis.

The prices are NOT set by the "spirits" (I think you mean the lwa) in all 
houses, although the grade of initiation usually is.  And there is indeed 
considerable bargaining between candidate and initiator, and I am not the 
only author to comment on this.  Metraux has a passage about a woman who came 
to a Mambo for initiation with nothing to bargain with but a straw mat.

Peace and love,

Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen

"Se bon ki ra", 
     Good is rare - Haitian Proverb

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