“There is a lot of love inside the Vodou. It is our heart and blood. So we will not back down. We have an important and strong force with us. Without it, we could not exist today.”
Ougan Ricardo Marie Dadoune (ree-car-doh mah-ree dah-doon), priest
“I see my role as a human rights activist and as a Manbo Asogwe (high priestess) as one…to help to literally conjure memory, so that our sense of self and sense of place is restored.”
Manbo Asogwe Dòwòti Désir (doo-what-tee day-seer), high priestess
“We retained the language and the religion (of Africa) so both could serve us. I would say like two scissor tips cutting the skin, they could cut the chains of slavery.”
Ati Max Beauvoir (ah-tee max bow-vwahr), Supreme chief
“I worship my ancestors. They were free people in Africa, minding their business. Invaders came and took everything from them. The only thing they brought with them was vodou.”
Manbo Beatrice Daleus (bee-ah-triss deh-looz), priestess
“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.”
Ati Carl Henri Desmornes (kahl on-ree day-mahn), Supreme chief
“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), priest
“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.”
Manbo Amelia Ingrid Llera (ah-mee-lee-yah een-grid yeh-rah), priestess
“Vodou comes from the enslaved people of Africa… They walked all over the world and came here to our land. This is the way we came to have the vodou spirit within us.”
Manbo Katy (mahn-bow kay-tee), healer & priestess