Krik! Krak!

FYI:  There is a tradition in Haiti when storytelling that the speaker uses to get everyone's attention. When the storyteller says "Krik!", the others respond "Krak!" to show that they're following along. 

Today we were fortunate enough to spend the day with Reverend Djaloki, an interfaith minister (in addition to being an engineer and active Haiti advocate) who generously told us about Haitian culture and religion. He told us primarily about a religion in Haiti that seems not unlike most, and one that certainly bears similarities with the Catholicism I grew up with; a religion that constantly guides our choices, that emphasizes harmony with nature, that defers to an ultimate creative source that rewards our good behavior, and that helps create a community in which we can find comfort and support. Rev. Djaloki was telling us about Vodou.

The word "Vodou" can be split into two parts: "vod" (that which is hidden) and "oun" (principal of life). Combined, the syllables thus mean "spirit," which reflects the Vodoun emphasis on the existence of two concurrently existing worlds, the invisible and visible. These two planes interact as the Lwa (spirits we can communicate with, kind of like Christian angels) and we ourselves when we dream go between the worlds given different pressures or initiators. Now, it is not my intention here to do a piecewise comparison between Vodou and Catholicism, but I think these parallels at least as I saw them helped shift my view of the religion from Voodoo to Vodou.

Voodoo, which I'm sure most of us are familiar with, is the Hollywood bastardization of a religion practiced by more than a hundred million people in Africa and the Americas. Such images of "savages" using rituals which many in the western world are averse to can seen in bad movies and even journalism about Haiti. This misconception about the religion--I and I believe many would argue--stems from many years of Haitian repression and impoverishment rather than experience with Vodou itself. Granted, my new opinions and respect for Vodou were formed over a (at times very tiring haha but nonetheless fascinating) four hour discussion with a Vodou priest, so if you have questions please visit this link to read more about Rev. Djaloki's beliefs straight from the horse's mouth.

- Cam