While the “Peace Searchers” honors Vodou adepts as those who search incessantly and passionately for peace and harmony, the images in this section cover a wide range of practitioners of African Traditional Religions (ATR) through-out the diaspora who are the guardians of tradition knowledge and memory-holders.
Our songs remind us we are the roots of the tree of life, “ Se mwen mem, Rasin— o” (traditional Haitian song) and that the battle for peace and justice is yet realized: “… Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on ‘til victory is won” (“Life Every Voice and Sing,” Black National Anthem)
Vodou priests preparing for a ceremony in the United States of America
Haitian and Mexican Vodou practitioners gather to celebrate the ancestors: Gede in Newark, NJ, USA
Vodou adepts in Bénin Republic
A chieftaincy initiation, Ouidah, Bénin
A Queen at a durbar in Accra, Ghana
A paramount chief in Ghana dances as he welcomes returnees of the African Diaspora
In memorial of the late Rastafarian Queen, Mère Jah (d. 2024), together with her widower Père Jah, were among the eldest Diasporic Africans to repatriate to the African continent. They chose Benin Republic as their home.
In Nigeria Babalawos and other spiritual leaders are pouring libations to commemorate predecessors vanquished in the Maafa.