Dominican ''Vudú'', or Dominican Voodoo, popularly known as ''Las 21 Divisiones'' (The 21 Divisions), is a heavily Catholicized syncretic

shaman Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spir ...

istic religion of African-Caribbean origin which developed in the erstwhile

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

colony of

Santo Domingo , total_type = Total , population_density_km2 = auto , timezone = AST (UTC −4) , area_code_type = Area codes , area_code = 809, 829, 849 , postal_code_type = Postal codes , postal_code = 10100–10699 ( Distrito Nacional) , webs ...

on the island of Hispaniola.

Beliefs

''Las 21 Divisiones'', or "The 21 Divisions" of Dominican Voodoo, consists of three main "Divisions", and an annexed extra: ''Rada Division'', also known as the "White", or "Sweet Division", whose spirits are of African origin (usually Fon, Ewe, and

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spirits); the ''Petro Division'', also known as the "Fire", or "Bitter Division" (mostly of

Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language * Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for National ...

origin spirits); the ''Gede Division'', also called the "Black Division" (whose spirits deal with death and the ancestors); and lastly the "Indian Division" (''Indios''), also called the "Water Division", whose spirits are of

pre-Columbian In the history of the Americas, the pre-Columbian era spans from the original settlement of North and South America in the Upper Paleolithic period through European colonization, which began with Christopher Columbus's voyage of 1492. Usually, ...

origin (usually refers to the Taíno Indians—the indigenious spirits of the island of ''Ayiti''). Most spirits are syncretized with a Catholic saint's image. These are some of the main features that distinguishes "Dominican ''Vudú''" from other forms of Voodoo. Some major deities venerated in Dominican Vudú include: *

Anaisa Pye Anaisa Pye (alternatively, Anaisa Pie, Anaisa Pie Danto, or Anaisa La Chiquita) is a popular loa within religion in the Dominican Republic. She is considered the patron saint of love, money, and general happiness within the religion in the Domin ...

, the Loa of love and happiness. She is syncretized with St. Anne, mother of Mary. Her feast day is July 26. * Belie Belcan, the Loa of justice and protection against demons. He is syncretized with St. Michael, the Archangel. His feast day is September 29. *Candelo sé Difé, Loa of fire, also a warrior and protector spirit. Considered to be one of the Ogou, syncretized with

St. Charles Borromeo Charles Borromeo ( it, Carlo Borromeo; la, Carolus Borromeus; 2 October 1538 – 3 November 1584) was the Archdiocese of Milan, Archbishop of Milan from 1564 to 1584 and a Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was a lead ...

. His feast day is November 4. *Santa Marta Dominadora, or Filomena Lubana, the Loa responsible for dominion over men. She is syncretized with St. Martha. Her feast day is July 29. * Ogun Balenyo, the Loa of warriors and soldiers. He is syncretized with

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whos ...

(St. James). His feast day is July 25. * Baron, the Loa of death. He is syncretized with San Elías (St. Elijah). His feast day is November 2. *Metresili, the Loa of love, beauty, and wealth. She is syncretized with the ''

Mater Dolorosa Our Lady of Sorrows ( la, Beata Maria Virgo Perdolens), Our Lady of Dolours, the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows ( la, Mater Dolorosa, link=no), and Our Lady of Piety, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names ...

'' (Our Lady of Dolors).

Music

Dominican Vudú music uses Afro-Caribbean percussion, mostly it is played with drums popularly known as ''Atabales'' or ''Palos'', which are of

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origin; along with it a ''Guira'' (metal scraper). The drummers are known as ''Paleros'', the ceremonies which they perform are usually referred to as ''Fiesta de Palo'' or ''Maní''. Some of the most popular artists to record this music are Enerolisa Nuñez and Bembesito.

Characteristics

Dominican Vudú is practiced through a "Tcha-Tcha" (''

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''—which means "rattle") lineage.Papa Hector Salv
''Las 21 Divisiones'' (''Vudú Dominicana'') — "The 21 Divisions" (Dominican Voodoo)
/ref> In Haiti, Voodoo has come about and become more popular through another lineage known as the "Asson". However, before the "Asson", the "Tcha-Tcha" lineage was the prominent lineage in Haiti. Thus the "Tcha-Tcha" lineage is one of the oldest lineages within the Voodoo tradition all over the island. Dominican Vudú practitioners are often called ''Caballos'' ('Horses'), ''Brujos'' ('Witch doctors'), or ''Servidores'' ('Servants'), but they are also known as ''Papa Bokos'' and ''Papa Loa'' (priest); and ''Mama Mambos'' and ''Mama Loa'' (priestess). One who has obtained this title has gone through the last and highest level of initiation that can take anywhere between three and nine days and nights as well as have spent a time working for the community.

Differences with Voodoo of Haiti

Dominican Vudú is less uniform in comparison to the popularly known Haitian Vodou lineage called "Asogwe". There is much regional variation in the Dominican Republic and parts of Haiti, one will still surely find a base structure throughout the island that defines and connects all lineages. Altars or shrines range from shacks, to compounds, or even dedicated temples. There are also variations in how ceremonies are conducted or how the ''Caballos'' ('Horse of the spirit') may mount a specific Loa. Differences depend on lineage and or region of practice no matter if in Haiti or the Dominican Republic. It is said that Voodoo on the island is a big tree with many branches.

References

Externsl links

''Malas Vibras En Casa & Como Quitarlas'' (''21 divisiones'')
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dominican Vudu Afro-Caribbean religion Afro-Dominican (Dominican Republic) Dominican Republic culture Religion in the Dominican Republic Voodoo