At a Veye (a kind of a wake ceremony) in a small Vodou-temple in Port-au-Prince, the deceased is represented by a calabash in a bowl of water mixed with a mix of various spirits (alcohol), perfumes and herbs. Singing and drumming on the calabash for 4 to 6 hours to summon the Vodou spirits, the Hounsies (female servants) are finally calling upon the spirit of the deceased. Once the spirit has been lured into the calabash, it is carried outside and the spirit is set free.
Haitian Vodou is a syncretic religion with roots in West African traditional religions and influences from European religions, such as Catholicism. It developed in Haiti during the 16th century colonial period and was shaped by the Haitian Revolution. It continues to evolve and is an important part of Haitian culture.
In Haitian Vodou, it is believed that the spirits of the deceased can be reincarnated as plants, animals, or even inanimate objects, and that they can also be reincarnated as human beings. This belief in reincarnation is an important part of Haitian Vodou spiritual practice, and it is a way for practitioners to honor and pay respect to their ancestors.
Thank you to Mambo Sonja, her family and members of the small Vodou community she was a part of. And a huge thank you to my fixer, translator and dear friend, Emmanuel Delone aka Snoop – may he rest in peace.
The body of Mambo Sonja is being prepared for the following ceremony – the Veye. The mix of Vodou and Catholicism is clearly seen here, where the white powder (Casarilla) on Sonja’s chest is an offering to Obatala, the creator of Earth, and the Rosary around her neck shows her Catholic beliefs.The calabash in the bowl symbolises Mambo Sonja’s body during the Veye.During the Veye ceremony, which takes between four and six hours, Mambo Sonja’s sister and the other Hunsies (female temple servants) from the small Vodou temple are chanting to call the spirit of the deceased Mambo into the calabash (floating in the bowl).During the Veye ceremony, Mambo Sonja’s sister and the other Hunsis from the temple is singing and drumming on the calabash to summon the Lwas (spirits).Mambo Sonja’s Lwa is the last Lwa to be summoned. It is captured in the calabash and carried outside, where it will be set free in a nearby junction.Nights in Haiti are very dark, but the fluid from the bowl and Mambo Sonja’s Lwa catches fire after being poured out in a nearby junction.The following day, Mambo Sonja is lying in state in a small chapel where the Catholic part of the ceremony is held.Family, friends and members of the small temple family Mambo Sonja was a part of, is saying a final farewell to Sonja.Mambo Sonja was transported by a hearse, accompanied by music, to a Catholic funeral service at a small, local church.On the way to the cemetery, a traditional funeral service is held in a semi-open church.On the way to the cemetery, a traditional funeral service is held in a semi-open church.At the Grand Cimetiére Port-au-Prince, the funeral procession took a mistaken route and had to lift Mambo Sonja over several tombs.Before Mambo Sonja is finally put to rest, the coffin is opened and the crucifix in the Rosary is covered by members of the small Vodou temple Sonja attended.Mambo Sonja was interred in a grave in the cemetery. After a period of three months, it is believed that her soul has departed from her body and will be reincarnated at a later time.
