Introduction to Vodun Spirituality Part Two

A four-week Course by Back to the Root - Intercultural Exchange 

As asserted in the intro of Part One of this course, the rise of the African Diaspora’s move to reconnect to the root provokes the proliferation of vodun priests not only in the Motherland but also in the diaspora. This opens the way to considerable confusions to the seekers who are now looking for the right path to the Root.

This four-week online course aims at diving deeper in the culture to have better understanding of how Vodun spirituality is practised in Danxomè so that folks can better relocate themselves in the way Vodun is practised today in the diaspora.

Course materials: The sections will be recorded so that participants will be able to watch playbacks in case they miss classes. We will be using PowerPoint slides, pictures, videos of rituals and chants, and interviews with priests. Participants are given weekly homework assignments for them to individually measure their acquisition of knowledge about the culture.

About the instructor:

Gérard Richard Agbayanou is cultural custodian and educator. He worked as an English teacher in Benin secondary schools for over 8 years. Additionally, he has been an invaluable asset to the Resplendence Language Arts (RLA) group, an African Language House of a kind. In this capacity, he adeptly assumes the roles of Fongbé and French instructor. RLA collaborates with the Sankofa Homeschool Collective (African-Centered) where Agbayanou teaches French and Danxome history.

In 2015, Agbayanou founded a Saturday school known as le Sens de l’Elite Africaine (SEA) which is a pan African crucible where the youth of the community are taught values that African leaders of tomorrow need to embody. This occurs through exposing the youth to the true history and culture of our societies. SEA gets the youth of Ouidah community trained in computing and artifacts. Every year, SEA organizes an inter-school contest and reward winners in the categories of Best Orator, Best Poet, Best Reader, and Best Word Hunter. And all this is African-Centered.

Agbayanou finds immense joy organizing educational and cultural tours, offering enriching experiences at significant historical and cultural sites in Benin. He owns a YouTube channel “Path to the Root” where he shares information about Vodun spirituality.

Course Outlines:

Section 1: Understanding the Different Processes of Initiation to Fa

- Difference between Fa, Afa, and Ifa

- Exposing the Different Steps or Processes of Initiation based on Identified Cultures.

- Responsibility after Initiation to Fa and Shrines related to Fa and Ifa Initiations.

Section 2: Understanding the Rituals during and after Initiation to Fa and Ifa

- Understanding Adra Rituals and Vɔsisa Rituals.

-The Limits of the Fa priest about the Initiate after Initiation.

-The Limits of the Initiate about his/her own Fa after Initiation.

- Exposing on the Deities revealed by your Du/ODU (your spiritual clan)

Section 3: Exposing on the Materialization of the Deities Related on your Du/Odu

- Case of Dan (Ayidohwèdo, Lisa, Tɔxɔsu and Mami).

- Case of Sakpata and other Vodun Ayijɛ.

Section 4: Understanding Mami Realities

- Discussing the Different Types of Mami.

- Exposing how some Mami are Connected to our Destiny while Others are not.

- Understanding the Process of Divination via Mami.

- Exposing on How to Integrate Mami Priesthood

- Assessment.

How to Register:

The fee is 100 USD. Payment can be sent through Cash App to $zoerrific

(account name is Chiazo Uketui) . It can also be sent to my mobile account by using World Remit, Ria, TransferGo, or any other app (+229) 0196848037.

Once you send the money, please send or screenshot the transaction receipt to my WhatsApp number (+229) 96848037. You can also email me at Resplendencegerard@gmail.com. I will share the zoom link to the class with you some days before the course start.