Faces of the Gods

by Leslie G. Desmangles

Book Overview

Vodou, the folk religion of Haiti, is a by-product of the contact between Roman Catholicism and African and Amerindian traditional religions. In this book, Leslie Desmangles analyzes the mythology and rituals of Vodou, focusing particularly on the inclusion of West African and European elements in Vodouisants' beliefs and practices.

Desmangles sees Vodou not simply as a grafting of European religious traditions onto African stock, but as a...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807843938
• ISBN13: 9780807843932
• Release Date: December 1992
• Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent study of Catholicism's Influence on Vodou

There is a tendency among many Neopagans and Wiccans to distance themselves from Christianity and Christian symbolism. Among the African Diaspora traditions, this is far less common. At a Fet (Vodou ceremony), one frequently sees statues of saints standing in for the lwa -- and may even see festivals in honor of popular saints like St. Clare and St. Philomena. These religions have been strongly influenced by Roman Catholicism, and retain many of the symbols and preconceptions found in that venerable faith.Desmangles is one of the first scholars to study these connections at length. His book provides solid historical evidence of Catholicism's role from the earliest days of Vodou, when Haiti was still St. Dominique and slavery was still the order of the day. He discusses how the Haitian Revolution led to the official Catholic Church pulling out of Haiti... and how an unofficial group of "priests" took over. Less educated than their predecessors, and less concerned with orthodoxy, they helped join Catholicism and Vodou together in the Haitian mind. Even after the return of Official Catholicism, and several "anti-superstition campaigns," this juxtaposition has not been erased. If you're looking for a how-to guide (i.e. "How to Cast Spells," "How to be a Super Elite Voodoo Houngan"), you will be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a solid and well-researched guide to Haitian Catholicism and its impact on Haitian Vodou, you'll be more than satisfied with this book.

Concise and understandable.

Vodou, while shrouded in mysticism and magic for many U.S. citizens is a rich and storied traditional practice and way of life in Haiti, with its variations of Santeria in Cuba and manifestations in Brazil and other Latin America. Leslie Desmangles' stance on Vodou and Roman Catholicism being in a symbiotic relationship is interesting, and he defines the relationship adequately, though I would disagree with that assessment. However, his descriptions and depictions of Vodou to the Haitian practitioner are impressive and are much easier to read than Maya Deren's prose (though it is beautiful and rich as well).