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The Role of Vodou Ritual Specialists in Group Re-Integration, Identity Creation and the Production of Health Among Haitians in Little Aith I" (2012)

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The Role of Vodou Ritual Specialists in Group Re-Integration, Identity Creation and the Production of Health Among Haitians in Little Aith I Florida International University FIU Digital Commons FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations University Graduate School 3-30-2012 Houngas and Mambos of the Diaspora: The Role of Vodou Ritual Specialists in Group Re- integration, Identity Creation and the Production of Health among Haitians in Little aitH i Dorcas Dennis Florida International University, [email protected] DOI: 10.25148/etd.FI12050126 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Dennis, Dorcas, "Houngas and Mambos of the Diaspora: The Role of Vodou Ritual Specialists in Group Re-integration, Identity Creation and the Production of Health among Haitians in Little aitH i" (2012). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 589. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/589 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the University Graduate School at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MIAMI, FLORIDA HOUNGAS AND MAMBOS OF THE DIASPORA: THE ROLE OF VODOU RITUAL SPECIALISTS IN GROUP RE-INTEGRATION, IDENTITY CREATION AND THE PRODUCTION OF HEALTH AMONG HAITIANS IN LITTLE HAITI A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in RELIGIOUS STUDIES by DORCAS DENNIS 2012 To: Dean Kenneth G. Furton College of Arts and Sciences This thesis, written by Dorcas Dennis, and entitled Houngas and Mambos of the Diaspora: The Role of Vodou Ritual Specialists in Group Re-integration, Identity Creation and the Production of Health among Haitians in Little Haiti, having been approved with respect to style and intellectual content, is referred to you for judgment. We have read this thesis and recommend that it be approved. ____________________________________ Christine Gudorf ____________________________________ Ana-Maria Bidegain ____________________________________ Albert Wuaku, Major Professor Date of Defense: 30 March, 2012 The thesis of Dorcas Dennis is approved. ______________________________________ Dean Kenneth G. Furton College of Arts and Sciences ______________________________________ Dean Lakshmi N. Reddi University Graduate School Florida International University, 2012 ii DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to a key informant, Hounga Pierre who did not live to see the completion of this study, but can still read it whenever he comes around from Giné. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am duly thankful to Dr. Ana-Maria Bidegain, Dr. Christine Gudorf and Dr. Albert Wuaku, for the thorough manner in which they supervised this work. I reserve special appreciation to Dr. Ana-Maria for guiding to shape the trajectory of study to consider gender as a factor in the research. I am most grateful to Dr. Gudorf for editing and guiding my flow of thoughts in the study. To my main supervisor Dr. Wuaku, I say "Ayekoo," not only did he go with me on all the occasions that I had to go to the field for data, because I did not know my way around Little Haiti as an international student, and did not own a vehicle. He also guided me in 'polishing' my language and the writing style for this study. In fact, you have all been supportive, critical and constructive. I appreciate all the guidance you showed while I pursued this study. May the good Lord grant you fulfillment in your noble careers. My appreciation and special thanks also goes to all the Professors at the Religious Study Department especially, Dr. Oren Stier, Dr. Eric Larson, Dr. Bauman and Prof. Alvarez. Your constant reminders and encouragement kept me on my toes to work within time. I wish to express my profound gratitude to Jean-Marie Mapou and Mambo Ingrid for allowing me entry to Halouba Hounfo and granting me access to gather data on the ritual life of Halouba Hounfo. Without your support and kind gestures, this academic dream would have been aborted. May Mawu Liza bless you in all your endeavors. Finally, I am grateful to my parents and my daughter, for sharing the vision in my academic pursuits with great patience. iv ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS HOUNGAS AND MAMBOS OF THE DIASPORA: THE ROLE OF VODOU RITUAL SPECIALISTS IN GROUP RE-INTEGRATION, IDENTITY CREATION AND THE PRODUCTION OF HEALTH AMONG HAITIANS IN LITTLE HAITI by Dorcas Dennis Florida International University, 2012 Miami, Florida Professor Albert Wuaku, Major Professor This study argues that as far as Haitian immigrants in Miami are concerned, issues of identity and health are interconnected. This stems from a Haitian understanding that sees health as the totality of wellbeing—material and spiritual. These two concerns merged in the creation of Halouba Hounfo, a ritual space in Little Haiti, where Haitian immigrants meet to produce and perform identity through Vodou ritual practices and meet their health needs at the same time. Using ethnography, the study traces the origins of Halouba, identifies the actors involved in its creation and the ritual practices performed there. It also analyzes how the rituals facilitate the integration of the group and produce health for them at the same time. As Haitians migrate to America, Vodou is becoming more relevant in their lives, even for American born Haitians because of the pressing need to respond to questions of identity and health. v TABLE OF CONTENT CHAPTER PAGE I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION................................................................................1 II. LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONTRIBUTION OF THE STUDY Introduction..............................................................................................................6 Health Care for Immigrants in the diaspora.............................................................7 Reintegration and Identity Creation of Immigrants in diaspora............................10 Health and Healing in Haitian Vodou....................................................................15 Functions of Mambos and Houngas......................................................................18 III. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK.........................................................................21 IV. FIELDWORK AND METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION The Geographical Setting: The Community and People of Little Haiti................30 Religious Life........................................................................................................32 Participant Observation.........................................................................................34 Interviews..............................................................................................................35 The Field Experience and Challenges...................................................................37 V. COMING TO AMERICA: HAITIAN MIGRATIONS Introduction............................................................................................................41 Period of Migration................................................................................................45 Reasons for Migrating to America.........................................................................46 The ritual preparations and the Journey across the Atlantic..................................51 Migratory Patterns.................................................................................................55 Haitian immigrants Experiences upon Arrival in America....................................56 Choices of Settlements...........................................................................................57 The Haitian Migrant experiences...........................................................................61 Health Issues..........................................................................................................65 Earlier Religious Experiences in America.............................................................67 Conclusion.............................................................................................................69 VI. HALOUBA HOUNFO AS A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION The physical temple...............................................................................................71 The Community.....................................................................................................74 The Hounfo Worshipping Community..................................................................75 Halouba's Economy...............................................................................................79 Story of Halouba's Origin......................................................................................80 vi VII. RITUAL LIFE AT HOUNFO HALOUBA: PERFORMING IDENTITY AND PRODUCING HEALTH IN THE CONTEXT OF RELIGIOUS PRAXIS Introduction............................................................................................................85 Ritual Life at Halouba........................................................................................... 86 The Public Rituals..................................................................................................87 Private Rituals......................................................................................................102 Conversations about the healing of loas..............................................................106 Conclusion...........................................................................................................108 VIII. VODOU IN MIAMI: EMERGING TRENDS....................................................110 IX. CONCLUSION
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