Baptised Drum

This video from Ouidah, Benin depicts part of ceremony to consecrate a new drum. The Belmont Radas also baptised their new drums usually the day before a ceremony. A small food offering of rice, peas and corn is made. Also, a godmother and godfather are chosen for the drum. The last godparents were Henry and Natassha.

What is Voodoo?

Article from the Huffington Post.

Racism clouds our view of Voodoo. It is rooted in slavery and intricately connected to this hemisphere's political and social evolution. Voodoo was first practiced in America and the Caribbean by slaves of African descent, whose culture was both feared and ridiculed. Slaves were not considered fully human. Their religion was dismissed as superstition, their priests were denigrated as witchdoctors, their Gods and Spirits were denounced as evil.

November Ceremony

Back in the day, the last Rada ceremony for the calendar year would begin today, the first Thursday of November and continue on Friday. The ceremony is called Kututo and is given for the souls of the deceased. There is also a mass for the souls in purgatory at St. Francis of Assisi church in Belmont before the ceremony. Evidence, once again, of the tie between the Catholic and Rada beliefs. Click on the link and imagine yourself sitting in the tent tonight, singing and clapping until the drums are turned down.