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3597: Nekita's comments on "Culture Vulturism" (fwd)
From:Nlbo@aol.com
Dear Corbetland,
I just want to say that I attended a voodoo ceremony for the first time in my
life in l996 in Miragoane. It was occuring in the house adjacent to the one I
was staying in. The beats of the drums were so enticing that I could not
resit. I went to see what was happening though my relatives did not want me
to. They said I will be possessed which I would have loved to.
I went and that was one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever
assisted. It was a "maryaj lwa". A lady traveled from Florida to come and
marry her loa.
There was no doubt I was a stranger. I was the only person taking pictures. I
was there from 7P.M to 1 A.M. No one asked for money. There was no collection
made like in Christian ceremonies. I felt I was a welcoming guest. The
hougan had me read numerous pages from the l'Ange Conducteur. I was so happy
to do so because at one time the traditional christian churches in Haiti did
not want "christians" to read l"Ange Conducteur " I hear it was banned and
taken out of book shelves in Haiti's seminaries( both protestant and
catholic)
I don't think the voodoisants are greedy. They know the blans make a lot of
money from their religion; from writing books to making movies. If those
foreigners give $10, $20 even $400 to assist a ceremony, there is nothing
vulturous about that.
Nekita