Spirit Service: The Architecture of Vodún and Vodou
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Scholars like Eric James Montgomery re-examine West African and Caribbean spiritual traditions through the lens of "spirit service," framing them as sophisticated systems of reciprocal obligation rather than mere folk beliefs. These sources illustrate how Vodu shrines function as essential civic institutions, serving as spiritual centers, hospitals for holistic healing, and judicial courts for dispute resolution. By documenting orders like Tchamba and Gorovodu, the research highlights how ritual performance acts as a historical archive to process past traumas, such as slavery and colonial violence. This scholarship emphasizes that Vodún and Vodou are dynamic, adaptive frameworks that allow marginalized communities to maintain political agency and social cohesion. Ultimately, the text presents these religious practices as vital technologies of survival that bridge West African heritage with the broader Atlantic diaspora.
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