SocialDocumentary.net | Viviana Peretti | Waiting for Gede

Photographer: Viviana Peretti

Title: Waiting for Gede

Location: New York, United States

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Group of Haitians during a Vodou ritual in Brooklyn, New York. Vodou rituals and pantheon reflect a lot of the Roman Catholicism tradition as well as African religious heritage. Haitian Vodouists revere a supreme God - Bondye - and a world of powerful spirits, Iwa, who link the human with the divine. There are hundreds of lwa in the Vodou religion, and each has its own personality, strengths, weaknesses, and favorite objects.
New York, March 2012. (Photo by Viviana Peretti)

This series portrays a group of Haitians during Vodou rituals in Brooklyn, New York.

People have many prejudices about Vodou that, in most cases, is associated with black magic and superstition, but I found a community deeply tied to its country, ancestors and believes. Each celebration is a time for unity and fraternity among Haitians trying to make contact not only with the spirits, but also between them, here and now.

Vodou rituals and pantheon reflect a lot of the Roman Catholic tradition as well as African religious heritage. Haitian Vodouists revere a supreme God – Bondye - and a world of powerful spirits, Iwa, who link the human with the divine. There are hundreds of lwa in the Vodou religion, and each has its own personality, strengths, weaknesses and favorite objects.

Ceremonies move to the rhythm of drums; induced by sound and glitter, the Iwa may possess their servitors or, as Haitians say, ride the horses. Gede is a very powerful, lascivious Iwa and if he decides to ride the horse, he will appear only at the end of each ceremony.

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This series portrays a group of Haitians during Vodou rituals in Brooklyn, New York.
People have many prejudices about Vodou that, in most cases, is associated with black magic and superstition, but I found a community deeply tied to its country, ancestors and believes. Each celebration is a time for unity and fraternity among Haitians trying to make contact not only with the spirits, but also between them, here and now.

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