Anthony Karen

Documentary Photographer

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Haitian Vodou

A Vodou priestess (Mambo) begin...si in a remote region of Haiti.

A Vodou priestess (Mambo) begins to invoke the spirits (Loa/Lwa) during the feast day of St. Francis De Assisi in a remote region of Haiti.

A Vodouisant after a moment of prayer.

A member of a Vodou Sosyete is ...hrough the trance like state.Â

A member of a Vodou Sosyete is overcome by an Iwa (spiritual entity) as a the Hougan (Vodou Priest) helps guide him through the trance like state.Â

A Houngan is overcome by a spir... the spirits of fertilization).

A Houngan is overcome by a spirit while dancing the Banda.Â

The Banda is a dance that closely mimics the bumps and grinds of sexual intercourse. The Banda is accompanied with drumming and songs, which honors the Ghede (the beloved spirits who serve as an intermediaries between the living and the dead, they are also the spirits of fertilization).

A Vodou priestess (Mambo) begins to invoke the spirits (Loa/Lwa) during the feast day of St. Francis De Assisi in a remote region of Haiti.

A Hougan (Hougan) uses talc pow... that family or others in need.

A Hougan (Hougan) uses talc power to refresh and purify a sacrificial offering. The meat and hide will then be eaten and shared amongst that family or others in need.

A mambo (Vodou priestess) is ov...she enters a trance like state.

A mambo (Vodou priestess) is overcome by an Iwa (spiritual entity) as she enters a trance like state.

A Mambo deep in prayer along a ...uests from previous worshipers.

A Mambo deep in prayer along a cavern wall covered with written requests from previous worshipers.

A member of a Vodou Sosyete is ...she enters a trance like state.

A member of a Vodou Sosyete is overcome by an Iwa (spiritual entity) as she enters a trance like state.

A Houngan begins to invoke the ...si in a remote region of Haiti.

A Houngan begins to invoke the spirits Lwa during the feast day of St. Francis De Assisi in a remote region of Haiti.

Vodouisants offer a sacrificial...d other Vodou related rituals.

Vodouisants offer a sacrificial goat food in the hopes that it will eat. If an animal refuses to eat its non-participation is taken as a sign that it is not willing to give its consent to be killed.

Animals are sacred in most African traditional religions, and are used as offerings to the Lwa and ancestors in healings, initiations, cleansing ceremonies, in thanksgiving for a favor granted, as payment to a promise made to a Lwa and other Vodou related rituals.

A goat in the process of being ... effort to appease the spirits.

A goat in the process of being sacrificed in an effort to appease the spirits.

A Houngan begins to invoke the spirits Lwa during the feast day of St. Francis De Assisi in a remote region of Haiti.

Preparation of the offering.

Once the animal is sacrificed, ...left as an offering to the Lwa.

Once the animal is sacrificed, the meat is prepared and eaten by the congregation. Some remains, such as the hide can be used to make ritual objects such as drums skins or simply left as an offering to the Lwa.