personal work: voodoo in Haiti, 1994 to 1997

A hounsi (young girl initiated into the voodo cult) praying at night in the hounfor (place of worship) in November 1995

Altar, Petro rite in October 1995

In the Port-au-Prince suburbs, a secret society practicing the Petro rite celebrates a ceremony consecrated to St. John the Baptist in October 1995

A secret society practicing the Petro rite celebrates a family ceremonyin October 1995

On Twelfth Night a mambo (voodoo priestess) dancing in front of the altar dedicated to the loas (spirits) protectors of the community in January 1997

On Twelfth Night a believer is being looked after in front of the altar consecrated to the loas (spirits) protectors of the community in January 1997

A mambo, member of a secret society following the Petro rite, holds in her hand a dove to be sacrified in October 1995

Ceremony dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Two mambos (voodoo priestesses) are in a trance, possessed by the loas (spirits) in October 1995

Ceremony dedicated to St. John the Baptist. A houngan (voodoo priest) supporting a mambo (voodoo priestess) exhausted by a violent trance in October 1995

Dance and prayer during Twelfth Nigh in January 1997

The musicians of a Rara band walking on a road at the entry to the city of Gonaïves on Easter day in April 1994

On the day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a believer praying in the church in July 1995

On the day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel believers praying in the church in July 1995

On the day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel believers praying in the church in July 1995

In the sanctuary of the Congo rite of Soukri a ceremony consecrated to the goddess Inan, associated to Our Lady of Assumption in August 1996

A community of farmers from the Artibonite preparing to sacrifice a bull to the loa (spirit) Ogou Feray during the annual pilgrimage in July 1995

A mambo praying in the mud basin  in the center of the village, during the annual pilgrimage dedicated to the loa (spirit) Ogou Feray in July 1995

Offerings in the mud basin in the center of the village, during the annual pilgrimage dedicated to the loa (spirit) Ogou in July 1995

A believer about to sacrifice a rooster during the annual pilgrimage dedicated to the loa (spirit) Ogou Feray in July 1994

During the big annual ceremony an initiate feeds the loa (voodoo spirit)  which has possessed him with the blood of a sacrificed kid in January 1997

A believer sacrifices a rooster during the annual pilgrimage dedicated to the loa (spirit) Ogou Feray in July 1994

A mambo praying in the mud basin in the center of the village, during the annual pilgrimage dedicated to the loa (spirit) Ogou Feray in July 1994

On the day of the celebration of Our Lady of Mount  Carmel a believer takes a « luck bath » under the waterfall where Erzulie, the loa (voodoo spirit) of femininity, lives in July 1995

On the day of the celebration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, believers take a « luck bath » under the waterfall where Erzulie, the loa (voodoo spirit) of femininity, lives in July 1995

On the day of the celebration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, believers take a « luck bath » under the waterfall where Erzulie, the loa (voodoo spirit) of femininity, lives in July 1994

On All Saints’ Day, the Guédés celebration. The voodoo followers gather in the cemeteries around the Cross of Baron Samedi, loa (spirit) of the dead in November 1995

Healing seance under the village crucifix in July 1995

On All Saints’ Day, the Guedes celebration. The voodoo followers gather in the cemeteries around the Cross of Baron Samedi, loa (spirit) of the dead in November 1995

On All Saints’ Day, the Guedes celebration. The voodoo followers gather in the cemeteries around the Cross of Baron Samedi, loa (spirit) of the dead in November 1995

Healing seance on a voodoo believer in July 1995

A pwen (a spell) in the countryside in April 1996

On All Saints’ Day women are possessed by the bawdy and pilferring Guédés, spirits of the dead in November 1995

On All Saints’ Day women are possessed by the bawdy and pilferring Guédés, spirits of the dead in November 1995

A seller of holy pictures in front of the Dezermit church next to Pétion-Ville. The loas (voodoo spirit) and the catholic saints in November 1996

Farmers voodoo ceremony during Twelfth Night in January 1997

On Easter weekend the community of Lakou de Souvenance organizing their big annual gathering in April 1996

On Easter weekend the community of Lakou de Souvenance organizing their big annual gathering. A mambo dancing after the sacrifice of a goat in April 1996

On Easter weekend the community of Lakou de Souvenance organizing their big annual gathering. Women dancing after the sacrifice of a goat in April 1996

On Easter weekend the community of Lakou de Souvenance organizing their big annual gathering. A mambo in the”Cep” position, a form of repenting in April 1996

On Easter weekend the community of Lakou de Souvenance organizing their big annual gathering in April 1996

The morning of Easter Monday the believers turn and pray around the sacred mapou (tree) in April 1996

The morning of Easter Monday the believers turn and pray around the sacred mapou (tree) in April 1996

Easter celebration. Mambos (voodoo priestesses) in April 1996