Cowries, Cosmologies, and Contracts: Ritual Economies and the Materiality of Wealth in Vodún
This article explores the complex entanglements between Vodún and money in southern Bénin, challenging the negative connotations associated with the phrase "voodoo economics." Drawing on ethnographic stories, the article examines the historical and spiritual significance of cowrie shells,...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2024
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| In: |
Journal of Africana religions
Year: 2024, Volume: 12, Issue: 2, Pages: 137-168 |
| Further subjects: | B
Vodún
B Bénin B Money B "ritual economics" B "cowrie shells" |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article explores the complex entanglements between Vodún and money in southern Bénin, challenging the negative connotations associated with the phrase "voodoo economics." Drawing on ethnographic stories, the article examines the historical and spiritual significance of cowrie shells, the apotheosis of wealth in Vodún cosmology, and the ways in which economic challenges inspire new forms of spiritual adaptation. The rising costs of ritual paraphernalia and the commercialization of Vodún have led to innovative practices, such as the use of plastic cowrie shells and the creation of spiritual contracts. Despite these challenges, Vodún remains deeply intertwined with notions of money and wealth, with spirits like Ajé and Ayĭzàn embodying prosperity and economic power. The article argues that, for Vodúnisants, wealth transcends its negative associations and instead represents a presence of power, responsibility, and the fundamental goodness that animates the world. |
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| ISSN: | 2165-5413 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of Africana religions
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.5325/jafrireli.12.2.0137 |
