23070: Bebe Pierre Louis: Re: 23054: demare: gran brijit (fwd) another try (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "[iso-8859-1] Bébé Pierre Louis " <moibibi8@hotmail.com>


Mimi,

Many Haitian Lwas have been associated to Europeans saints; some scholars
think that they have just been “conquered”, which is a possibility; though I
never heard of many Scots or Irish in Haiti (as you rightfully point out)!!!

However, some lengthy research demonstrates that those associations are not
completely devoid of African origin. Gwan Brijit can be found in the name of
a very old nation (Berjet, if I remember well, please check the book written
by Baumann & Westerman) in the Chad region who, in the 40’s still had
rituals that could be traced back to the kingdom of Kush. Furthermore, one
of the oldest pyramid in southern Egypt or maybe in Nubia or Kush, holds a
very similar name.

The following song refers to Kush without any doubt:

Ou di Manman Brijit Kouche
L ap dòmi.
Lè la reveye, Dèniye,
Hounsi doba,
Dlo lan je Manman Brijit.

“Kouche” which is a term also used for initiations undoubtedly refers to the
old rituals used in Kush long ago.

Good luck in your research!

Bébé PL