Episode 2: Vodou, African Traditional Religion, and Afro-Caribbean Religions (Part 1)

Today, in the second episode of "Faith, Reason, and Dialogue," Dr. Celucien Joseph interviews Vodou scholar, linguist, and educator Professor Benjamin Hebblethwaite of the University of Florida about the relationship between Haitian Vodou, African traditional religion, and Afro-Caribbean Spirit-based Traditions. In the second part of the conversation, we discuss Dr. Hebblethwaite's new and ground-breaking book, “A Transatlantic History of Haitian Vodou: Rasin Figuier, Rasin Bwa Kayiman, and the Rada and Gede Rites” (University Press of Mississippi, 2021). In the conversation, we discuss five main issues:

1. Royal Vodou, African slavery, and Political (monarchial) power

2. Religion, slavery, and Migration in the African Diaspora

3. Rada Rite and Gede Rites and diversity in Haitian Vodou

4. Vodou hermeneutics

5. Vodou sacred songs and two Haitian bands: “Rasin Figuier’s Vodou Lakay and Rasin Bwa Kayiman’s Guede”