Magic, Spirits, and Religion in the Caribbean

TThis course will examine the history and role of the diverse religious components of the Caribbean, with a particular emphasis on the emergence and development of African Creole religions, belief systems and practices such as Santeria, Espiritismo, Vodou and Candomblé. This exploration of Caribbean magic, spirits, and religions will engage the intercultural and interreligious conflicts and convergences that occurred throughout the Caribbean from the colonial to the post-colonial periods. We will focus on themes that pervade Caribbean religion, such as race, kinship, exile, diaspora, ritual and resistance. Some areas for consideration are: the power of African Creole religions in the Caribbean socio-political sphere, music as a subversive space, the place of animal sacrifice in religious ritual, and the transformation of racial identity based on religious affiliation