More on Makaya
Kevin Filan
was told.
It seems that Racine was correct in her recent assertion that Makaya is not
a rite of Vodou, but something which was separate and distinct. My Mambo
took pains to separate "Makaya" from the lwa "Simbi Makaya," stating the two
were not related despite the name. She said that if you were going to do
any work in Makaya you would have to do it outside the peristyle, as Makaya
is not connected to the "Gineh spirits" of Vodou. (This is also true when
you are doing a Martinist Mass; while my Mambo is a Martinist, she would not
perform a Martinist ceremony in her peristyle).
According to my Mambo, Makaya is one of the many secret societies which are
found throughout Haiti. Much as you will find Sanpwel like Savann Pistache
in P-a-P, Zobop and Convoue in Leoganne, and Makandal and Vimblinding in
Laplanne, you will find Makaya throughout the country, with a fairly large
concentration in Lakaye.
While the initiation into Makaya does not involve an asson or a kanzo, there
is an initiation, much as there is an initiation into the Sanpwel, Zobop, or
any of the other secret societies. You do not set yourself up in business
as a Makaya practitioner, any more than you would proclaim yourself a member
of the Sanpwel. She was amused by Racine's assertion that you do not
initiate into Makaya: as she said, "Ask her if you don't initiate in Makaya,
how do you learn about Makaya?"
She also said that the term "Bokor" was not used specifically to refer to a
Makaya practitioner, but was actually a synonym for "Houngan." As she put
It; in Port-au-Prince or Jacmel she would be called "Mambo Azan Taye" by
most Kreyol-speakers and "Priestesse" (Priestess -- and I'm probably
misspelling the word, since my French is non-existent) by upper-class French
speakers. In the countryside they would call her a "Bokor;" this does not
specify a distinct lineage but is rather a different word for the same
thing. The word "sorciere" (sp?) or sorcerer would be used for a Houngan or
Mambo who worked "with both hands" -- who has both a Houngan and a member of
a secret society. The term she used for a self-taught uninitiated
practitioner with no asson was not "Bokor" but "Houngan Makoute." (I have
also seen this term used in Metraux). This means literally "Houngan with a
bag" and has the connotation of "Houngan who pulled his credentials out of
thin air."
Her assertion that Makaya is a secret society would also explain Racine's
difficulties in finding a Makaya practitioner to initiate her client: I
suspect that if I wandered around the Haitian countryside looking for
someone to grant me membership in the Vimblinding or Zobop I might run into
similar difficulties. In any event, I have done as I promised and provided
you with another source. Any commentary is welcome.
Peace
Kevin Filan
Dylan Nathair
> According to my Mambo, Makaya is one of the many secret societies which are
> found throughout Haiti. Much as you will find Sanpwel like Savann Pistache
> in P-a-P, Zobop and Convoue in Leoganne, and Makandal and Vimblinding in
> Laplanne, you will find Makaya throughout the country, with a fairly large
> concentration in Lakaye.
This is interesting, I have never heard Makaya called a "secret
society", I have always thought it was a different type of indigenous
religion in Haiti.
>The term she used for a self-taught uninitiated practitioner with no
asson was not "Bokor" but "Houngan Makoute." (I have also seen this
term used in Metraux). This means literally "Houngan with a bag" and
has the connotation of "Houngan who pulled his credentials out of thin
air."
I always thought that a "Houngan Makoute" was a Houngan that didn't
have a house, thus we worked out of his Makout (the straw bag). He
kept all his religious and ritual paraphernalia in the bag, so serve
his clients and spirits.
In Service:
Dylan Nathair
Houngan Aboudja
remember who she is & also tell her that "I know, respect, and
understand her previous comments to me, though we are not in agreement
& I feel she is missing some important bits of data". perhaps we will
have a chance one day soon to speak to her in person about these
things. Thanx.
Ok, on to Makaya...
I would only ad the following thoughts to your excellent points:
1.) Many peole distinguish Makaya from other secret socities such as
Bizango, & this for certain hitorical & political reasons (which would
require a lot more bytes than i plan on typing right now). By this, I
do not mean that Makaya does not qualify as a secret society, but it
should be pointed out that initiates of Makaya who hold to the
obligations to these spirits, may not be memebrs of any organized
secret society. Many houngan & manbos serve Makaya spirits only
returning to their root house annually for thier obligations (which
are steep btw).
2.) Certain spirits served in Makaya may also be served in Ginea Vodou
& visa versa... they manifest on either side differently & by this I
mean, their affectations & ethos, & ways of being served vary based
upon the rite they are being served in: Makaya or Ginea. The most
noted example of this... off the top of my head... is Bawon Kriminel &
Koukoulou. there are others of course. Simbi Makaya is not one of
them. You are correct. However, most are exclusive. You would never
see Baton Fatwa, Vivi, Maloulou, or Manzel Anayis served in the Ginea
rites.
3.) Yes, Makaya is seperate & distinct. But we must take care for
semantics here. Many Vodouwizan & Makaya devotees would point out that
"There is only one Ginea, because there is only one father and one
mother" & thereby will say that all of these traditions are in some
ways related... if only at the root. For example, many Vodou societies
pass Petwo & into Makaya rhythms & salutations at Xmas time. These two
seem to blur, at least to a degree, at different times of the year, in
different localities, & among different societies.
yes, there is alot of Makaya in Okay... as I said, that is where my
friend who is a Makaya priestess comes from. Ill be seeing her soon in
fact, & hope to learn quite a bit more, God willing.
4.) The obligations for going "deep" into the Makaya are steep because
these paths are very "hot" & require great attention. This is no
familial Rada paradigm, and that is the reason for seperating the two.
If an houngan has Makaya spirits, they must be housed seperately from
the rest of the hounfo where they are kept perpetually heated so that
they can be put to work quickly. I know this "pain in the butt" issue
very well myself. ;-)
BTW, as your manbo knows, Marie is also a Martinist, a tradition which
sadly, I know nothing about. Any references you have on the Net, I
would appreciate having.
5.) In certain areas of Haiti, for example in Maribalais & the
surrounding areas, Ginea Vodou & Makaya/Bizango/et al have blurred to
a greater degree. many people who kouche for the ason in these areas
exit the djevo with "2 ason", one for the Ginea, &... well, you get
the idea. I should note that this is not the way it is in my own
lineage, & I make no comment on the validity of doing things this way.
After all, chak houngan, houngan lakay li (each houngan is in his own
house)... a proverb certain people would do well to remember.
I note your point... "Her assertion that Makaya is a secret society
would also explain Racine's difficulties in finding a Makaya
practitioner to initiate her client: I suspect that if I wandered
around the Haitian countryside looking for
someone to grant me membership in the Vimblinding or Zobop I might run
into
similar difficulties. In any event, I have done as I promised and
provided
you with another source. Any commentary is welcome."
... & would say that, while this is probably true... common sense
(duh!). I have not found Makaya people to be reticent about speaking
to me. But then again, I am recognized as an houngan in Haiti, as the
Diaspora, & often... because of her relationships & notoriety, Marie's
intro is all that is needed for them to speak to me. Perhaps that is
just me though... Perhaps if I ran around hollering that I hold the
one & only ture Vodou, & that Makaya has no lineage to say nothing of
initiation, I might find a bit cooler response, eh?
Best to you,
Houngan Aboudja
Kevin Filan <mrha...@excite.SPAMBGONE.com> wrote in message news:<BA35B7CA.C507%mrha...@excite.SPAMBGONE.com>...
Houngan Aboudja
day soon to speak to her in person about these things."
LOL that was not the royal *we*, I assure you. Rather, I meant to say
that perhaps we will have a chance one day soon to speak in person
about these things.
Best,
HA
Kevin Filan
ea6b7570.02123...@posting.google.com, "Dylan Nathair"
<dylann...@aol.com> wrote:
> Greetings Everyone!
Hey, Dylan! Glad to see you chime in: I've seen you on a few other
discussion boards and look forward to your input here.
>> According to my Mambo, Makaya is one of the many secret societies which are
>> found throughout Haiti. Much as you will find Sanpwel like Savann Pistache
>> in P-a-P, Zobop and Convoue in Leoganne, and Makandal and Vimblinding in
>> Laplanne, you will find Makaya throughout the country, with a fairly large
>> concentration in Lakaye.
>
> This is interesting, I have never heard Makaya called a "secret
> society", I have always thought it was a different type of indigenous
> religion in Haiti.
Since I have never been to a Makaya sevis, I am relying on my Mambo for this
information. I have generally found her to be a very competent and reliable
source; she has been a Mambo Asogwe for over 20 years and has a solid
reputation in Brooklyn's Haitian community.
In my brief encounters with Makaya practitioners, they claimed there was an
initiation involved in Makaya practice and were rather secretive about the
details of said initiation. This would lend credence to my Mambo's claim
that Makaya is a secret society. (Of course, you could also define Orthodox
Vodou as a "Secret Society:" it has the handshakes, passwords, secret
gestures and suchlike, along with information which is only transmitted via
initiatory rituals).
>> The term she used for a self-taught uninitiated practitioner with no
> asson was not "Bokor" but "Houngan Makoute." (I have also seen this
> term used in Metraux). This means literally "Houngan with a bag" and
> has the connotation of "Houngan who pulled his credentials out of thin
> air."
>
> I always thought that a "Houngan Makoute" was a Houngan that didn't
> have a house, thus we worked out of his Makout (the straw bag). He
> kept all his religious and ritual paraphernalia in the bag, so serve
> his clients and spirits.
I was under the impression that the term "Makoute" was used because said
Houngan "pulled his credentials out of a bag," much as we might say he
"pulled them out of his ass." I believe that a Houngan Makoute can have a
spirit house, although it would not be a peristyle and he would not hold
initiations therein.
> In Service:
> Dylan Nathair
Peace
Kevin Filan
Mambo Racine Sans Bout
> found throughout Haiti.
No. Makaya is not a "secret society" like the Sanpwel,
Makaya is a RELIGION and it's ceremonies are open to the
public.
> While the initiation into Makaya does not involve an asson or a kanzo, there
> is an initiation
No, there is not.
> You do not set yourself up in business
> as a Makaya practitioner
That is EXACTLY what many Makaya Bokors do! They
have a lwa they work with, they build a little
hounfor, and they go to work.
>She was amused by Racine's assertion that you do not
> initiate into Makaya: as she said, "Ask her if you don't initiate in Makaya,
> how do you learn about Makaya?"
She can be amused all she wants. Most people who
serve in Makaya grew up in areas where Makaya
service is prevalent, and since Makaya services
are open to the public, they just watch and
learn.
> She also said that the term "Bokor" was not used specifically to refer to a
> Makaya practitioner, but was actually a synonym for "Houngan."
That is not true at all. The word has two meanings:
1) Bokor (which I capitalize) - a Makaya priest.
2) bokor (which I do not capitalize) - a malevolent
magican, otherwise known as a malfecteur.
Peace and love,
Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen
"Se bon ki ra" - Good is rare
Haitian Proverb
The VODOU Page - http://members.aol.com/racine125/index.html
(Posting from Port-au-Prince, Haiti)
Kevin Filan
fc61f8b9.02123...@posting.google.com, "Mambo Racine Sans Bout"
<raci...@aol.com> wrote:
*Snip standard "NO THAT'S WRONG BECAUSE I SAID SO" post.*
Rather than argue these points with me, why don't you address the woman
herself? She can be reached at azan...@yahoo.com and I'm sure she would
treat your thoughts on the subject with all the respect they deserve.
(To avoid any suspicions that Mambo Azan Taye is a Kevin Filan sockpuppet,
why don't you write the letter in Kreyol? While Kathy has had a few Kreyol
lessons and while I have picked up a few words at various ceremonies,
neither of us could pass for a native Kreyol speaker. It would also
facilitate easier communication between the two of you, since Kreyol is her
first language).
ObNote for those interested: http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tristatevodou
has a few new pictures in the Photos section. I have included some pictures
of a Klemezin Maryaj which I think came out quite well; there are also some
new pictures of a recent Fete Danto. While tristatevodou is primarily for
NY/NJ/CT Vodouisants, we welcome all interested and sincere people.
Peace
Kevin Filan
Mambo Racine Sans Bout
> On 12/31/02 8:15 PM, in article
> fc61f8b9.02123...@posting.google.com, "Mambo Racine Sans Bout"
> <raci...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> *Snip standard "NO THAT'S WRONG BECAUSE I SAID SO" post.*
It's not wrong because I say so, Kevin, although after
what now approaches sixteen years of experience in Haiti,
it doesn't matter to me if you believe me or not.
> Rather than argue these points with me, why don't you address the woman
> herself? She can be reached at azan...@yahoo.com
Another sceen name! LOL
> (To avoid any suspicions that Mambo Azan Taye is a Kevin Filan sockpuppet,
> why don't you write the letter in Kreyol?
As if that would prove anything?
Kevin, look, I really don't care if you think that
Makaya is a secret society or a religion or an
initiatory tradition or not an initiatory tradition,
things are the way they are regardless of what
you wish to believe or don't wish to believe.
Peace and love,
Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen
"Se bon ki ra" - Good is rare
Haitian Proverb
The VODOU Page - http://members.aol.com/racine125/index.html
(Posting from Jacmel, Haiti)
Levoivoddin Eskeddan Thornassin an Cinnabar
Racine Sans Bout) ebbe strane doglie e partori':
> Kevin, look, I really don't care if you think that
> Makaya is a secret society or a religion or an
> initiatory tradition or not an initiatory tradition,
> things are the way they are regardless of what
> you wish to believe or don't wish to believe.
Some ppl needs to own all words about things,
but are unable to reach things.
Sometimes i think getting words about things can keep you
far to get things.
Lev
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