A presentation of unmentioned memories: The present of the past of slavery in Ouidah, Benin

Authors

  • Gaetano Ciarcia Université Paul Valéry Montpellier, IIAC – Equipe LAHIC Paris.

Abstract

Through the career of “resource persons”, who balance native heritage and the transmission of scholarly knowledge, this article discusses how memorial and patrimonial uses of the past of slavery are connected to the renewal of ancient religious traditions such as voodoo in Ouidah, Benin. Maintaining a balance between the scholarly knowledge of tradition and the moral and ritual adherence to the voodoo “secrets”, the transmitters of cultural memories operate a charismatic reappropriation of cultural capital. Such cultural capital consists both of the “tradition” and the past of slave trade, of which they claim to be owners and witnesses at the same time.

Key words: memories, slavery, voodoo religion, tradition.

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Published

2011-12-22

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 3 (2011): September/December

Section

Dossiê: Os males da memória

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