#4606: Spirituality Haiti 2000 and beyond...(Jafrikayiti) (fwd)

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From: Jean Saint-Vil <jafrikayiti@hotmail.com>

                        As we approach the end of the year 2000, more and 
more "Black" peoples the world over are discovering the negative impact of 
acculturation through "Chritianisation" and/or "Islamisation".

                        i.e. Many of us now realise that in order to develop 
a relationship with Bondye, our creator, we do not have to deny ourselves 
and become « white » inside. We can dance good Konpa music, good Rara, and 
we can dress like the Afrikans that we are. We do not need to dress like 
Europeans with ties choking us under the 33 degree sun in order to look like 
and/or be Jesus-like. Bondye
loves us as we truly are!

                        In that regard, we have seen the emergence of slow 
changes within the Catholic church with the "Ti-Legliz" bringing in the 
drums. In the protestant churches, slowly but surely, people realise that 
God is not a unilingual francophone. So they start to sing and pray in 
Kreyòl (no drums yet however!). And more and more the new generation of 
Haitian protestants are playing Konpa. Alabanza, Frère Kamo aletriye. Plus 
Didi Jeremie, on the Catholic side.

                        On a more African-centered side, we have the 
powerful lyrics of Boukman Eksperyans that refer to "Ginen Jesus" and sing 
"Bay Bondye Glwa". On the pure Vodou side with have Azò and Wawa who do not 
go half way about it. Their music is clearly Vodou.

                        Yet there are those who say all this is only the 
beginning. Much more need to be done in order to develop a truly 
Afri-Ayitian Spiritual revolution within our people. They say "get rid of 
the white "god" images in our subconscious, whether Christian or vodouisant. 
The "white" Erzulie, the "white" Jezi-mari jozèf elatriye are all sequels of 
slavery. Get rid of them and recognize the true Bondye spirit creator of 
whom we have no picture. They say: teach your children to pray Bondye in 
their own mother tongue; Teach them to praise Bondye with their own 
traditional instruments and melodies. Teach them to say Ayibobo without 
fearing Dante's so-called "hell". Teach them to take part in the life and 
struggle of their people (not waiting idle and lazily) for Jesus to do 
everything for them. Teach them personal responsibility for their negative 
actions; Teach them to love Black people, Red People, Yellow People, ALL 
People. But first teach them to stop worshipping White people. Either 
mythical or actual. I.e. deprogram the evanjelizazonbifikasyon done by 
Christianity over the last 500 years...

Are we in the middle of a spiritual revival in Haiti?

Is it a good thing?

Will all these changes lead to more religion-based violence like Kanpay 
Rejete ( 1940s), Kanpay Konvèti Boukman nan Bwa Kay Iman                    
(1990s) or to spiritual enlightment ?

Jafrikayiti
"Lanmou pi fò pase lanmò!"

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