24593: Rush (reply) Re: 24592: Wilcken: Ezili Danto and Djouba

[sak-pase@bimini.ws]

Dana Rush <danarush@uiuc.edu>



I lived in Ouidah, Bénin for a few years, so I know a bit of fongbe.

"Za," without a doubt means night. Zangbeto, for example means the 
Guardian (person= gbeto) of the Night (Za). Zangbeto acted as a type of 
precolonial police force to protect people from the night. FYI; They 
look like spinning haystacks.

I am not sure how to translate "ndò" or "_d_ò." The "dò" in "dò gbé" 
means "to sleep." Thus "dò gbé" is said for "good night" ( literally" 
"sleep living," meaning sleep through the night and wake up). Dò also 
means to make or do.

The only word I know similar to Zando, which has to do with Vodun (and 
religion in general) in Benin is "Zadr_o_,' which is the name for the 
night before a a religious ceremony.

I do not, however, know if Danto derives from Zando.

I hope this helps shed some light?
Dana


Dana Rush
Assistant Professor
African and African Diaspora Art History
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
danarush@uiuc.edu
I lived in Ouidah, Bénin for a few years, so I know a bit of fongbe.

"Za," without a doubt means night. Zangbeto, for example means the Guardian (person= gbeto) of the Night (Za). Zangbeto acted as a type of precolonial police force to protect people from the night. FYI; They look like spinning haystacks. 

I am not sure how to translate "ndò" or "dò."   The "dò" in "dò gbé" means "to sleep." Thus "dò gbé" is said for "good night" ( literally" "sleep living," meaning sleep through the night and wake up). Dò also means to make or do. 

The only word I know similar to Zando, which has to do with Vodun (and religion in general) in Benin is "Zadro,' which is the name for the night before a a religious ceremony.

I do not, however, know if Danto derives from Zando. 

I hope this helps shed some light?
Dana


Dana Rush
Assistant Professor
African and African Diaspora Art History
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
danarush@uiuc.edu

On Mar 30, 2005, at 11:20 AM, sak-pase@bimini.ws wrote:

> Lois E. Wilcken <makandal-ny@juno.com>
>
> Can anyone shed light on the roots of the Djouba nation in Vodou? Researchers place Djouba variously in the Rada or Petwo branches--when
> they place it at all.
>
> Is the "Dantò" in Èzili Dantò derived from Zandò?  And is Zandò truly a
> fongbe term for spirits that travel in the night?
>
> Lois
>
> La Troupe Makandal - New York City's Center for Haitian Drum and Dance
> 621 Rutland Road 4C, Brooklyn NY 11203-1716
> 718-953-6638 / makandal-ny@juno.com
> www.makandal.org




Dana Rush
Assistant Professor
African and African Diaspora Art History
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
danarush@uiuc.edu