Trees Take Us to the Gods: Vodou and the Environment

In conjunction with the 27th Haitian Studies Association Conference
Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada
Wednesday, October 21–Sunday, October 25, 2015

Under the Aegis of Klèmezin, Minis Azaka, and Bway Gede

The Lwa of agriculture and of hard work and of common folks, Klèmezinn and Azaka, the male and female "seed," make things grow, while Bwa [Brav] Gede announces the death of all, as surely as our sun itself will die someday! So-called nature religions are anchored in scientific phenomena and their manipulations, recognizing that all fragile creatures are one, sharing both DNA and purposeful intent. The mineral, vegetal, and animal kingdoms are the foundations of our lives on a creative and living planet. We create the environment and are created by it, simultaneously, as an indication of our cosmic powers as agents. In Vodou and other indigenous African religions the notion of environment suggests a philosophical, religious, cosmological belief and attitude of embedded continuity tacitly comprehended.

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