Konesans soti anba dlo, a wet ontological approach to understanding Ginen’s positionality in the shaping of Vodou knowledge

Abstract:

The oceans, and indeed water in its various forms have and continue to shape Vodou epistemologies,and Ginen, Vodou’s most sacred and mythical space is at the centre of these debates. In Vodou cosmology, Ginen is the home of the Lwa, the divinities which guide and protect humankind, Ginen is also the home of the ancestors. However, Ginen also serves as the space where Vodou knowledge which is known as Konesans is accumulated for the benefit of humankind. According to Vodou tradition, Ginen is an Island oasis located anba dlo, meaning under water. In this context, anba dlo refers to cosmic waters, a recurring motif in the Vodou tradition, which further stresses the symbolic and literal importance of water in Vodou, as access to Ginen is granted by submersing under the sea or other large bodies of water. Whilst there is a growing body of literature on Vodou which have highlighted water’s importance in Vodou rituals such as libation, Ginen as a cosmological space located anba dlo and responsible for knowledge creation is understudied. Addressing this gap in the literature, this paper posits that Ginen is not only a cosmic abode, but a process through which Konesans can better be understood inside and outside of Vodou milieus. Drawing from the scholarship on Afro-Caribbean religious traditions, oceanic epistemology, and Afro-futuristic studies, I seek to highlight nature’s importance in the creation of Vodou knowledge, and how that knowledge is rendered accessible. Similarly, I seek to explore Ginen’s role as a cosmological realm of unlimited and potent imaginative powers, powers which are key to the reimagination of Vodou’s sacred futures as they develop.

Bio:

Steveen Ulysse is a Postgraduate Researcher in Sociology at the University of Glasgow, his research mainly focuses on the exploration of Vodou as form of modern cosmopolitanism, and its links with other Afro-based religious traditions, highlighting how these traditions shape certain identities, particularly in the diaspora. Steveen is also interested in exploring the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Gullah Geechee heritage, as well as ideas around ‘home’, and identity making. Steveen is a Postcolonialist interested in exploring ideas from the Global South, and their importance in shaping distinct modernities.