Photos by Jerome Soimaud

Permanent Link:

https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00005507/00001

Material Information

Title:

Photos by Jerome Soimaud

Alternate Title:

Photos by Jérôme Soimaud

Creator:

Soimaud, Jérôme

Publisher:

Jerome Soimaud
Jérôme Soimaud

Publication Date:

2011

Notes

Abstract:

Jérôme Soimaud’s photographs from Vodou ceremonies in Miami, Florida. Photographs 1-5 design the basic elements at the beginning of a Vodou ceremony. Photographs 2, 3, and 4 show the stations which must be saluted by the Vodou priest or priestess. 1. Salutation: the Vodou priestess (manbo) shakes the sacred rattle (ason) and bells (klochèt) which direct the drummers and call forth the lwa (photograph by Jérôme Soimaud in Miami, Florida). 2. The altar (pe): in this case it is dedicated to the lwa Èzili Dantò. The altar displays the symbols of the lwa. Èzili Dantò’s heart-shaped diagram (vèvè) has been traced in front of the altar to consecrate the space (photograph by Jérôme Soimaud in Miami, Florida). 3. The drummers (ountò): in a ceremony they provide the rhythmic foundation for ritual, dancing, and possession. Drumming insistently calls the lwa and it drives the lwa into the head of the lwa’s horse (the one possessed) (photograph by Jérôme Soimaud in Miami, Florida). 4. The centerpost (potomitan): the symbolic tree around which all Vodou worship circles. The lwa rise and descend through this channel which links the three domains of the lwa: the sky, the earth, and the water (photograph by Jérôme Soimaud in Miami, Florida). 5. A Vodou priest (oungan) traces a diagram (vèvè) to honor a lwa and consecrate the place of the ceremony (photograph by Jérôme Soimaud in Miami, Florida). 6. Salutation: the Vodou priestess (manbo) shakes the sacred rattle and bells (klochèt) (photograph by Jérôme Soimaud in Miami, Florida). 7. Two Vodouists greet each other during a ceremony (photograph by Jérôme Soimaud in Miami, Florida).

Record Information

Source Institution:

University of Florida

Holding Location:

University of Florida

Rights Management:

All rights reserved by the source institution.

Resource Identifier:

AA00005507_00001 ( sobekcm )

UFDC Membership

Aggregations:

University of Florida
Vodou Archive