“Do not forget Vodou is our culture and our religion at the same time. Don't forget we are descendants of Africans. We're born in Vodou.”

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Feb 22

Ongan Michelet Alisma (meesh-lay al-smah)

priest

IMAGE SOURCE: “Interview with Ongan Michelet Tibosse Alisma by Benjamin Hebblethwaite.” Vodou Archive. Aug 2012. | TEXT SOURCE: “Interview with Ongan Michelet Tibosse Alisma by Benjamin Hebblethwaite.” Vodou Archive. Aug 2012.

QUOTE CONTEXT: “Protestantism is something that entered (Haiti) in 1815. The foreigners brought it to us…Do you believe that anyone could remove your blood and tell you to replace it with water. No, I need your water to drink. I’m obliged to take it from you. But I will never really remove my blood…Vodou is our blood.”

QUOTE QUESTION: In what ways do your culture and your religion intertwine?

IMAGE CONTEXT: ”I am a civil engineer. I am an accountant. I am a boko ongan (chosen priest) who started to do this work at the age of 7 until today. I am 38 years old. I have been representing Vodou in the name of Societe Linto Trois Mysteres for 31 years.”

IMAGE QUESTION: How do you hold your hands when you stand in your power?

MEDIA LITERACY CONTEXT: The quote and photo are from a university archive devoted to preserving the wisdom of vodoun.

MEDIA LITERACY QUESTION: How can universities support cultural resilience?

“Do not forget Vodou is our culture and our religion at the same time. Don't forget we are descendants of Africans. We're born in Vodou.”

Ongan Michelet Alisma (meesh-lay al-smah)

“Vodou practitioners have the responsibility to look after the well-being of the population. They have received the powers and the knowledge to put (well-being) in practice.”

“Gede (ancestral spirits) and all the others are always present anytime they are called upon. We feel as if they are with us always and they hear us whenever we call on them.”