#kanzo 2018

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Salye Loko, Antre Kanzo 2018

Kay Manbo Maude/Sosyete Nago, Jacmel

Loko is a lwa intrinsic to the kanzo process in that no houngan or manbo asogwe can be made without him. He is the gran poto mitan, the spirit that holds up the priesthood, and if he is against you...well, live your life in such a way that he would not find reason to be against you. 

Loko was the first houngan and, along with his wife, Ayizan, is responsible for the fundamental aspects of kanzo for an asogwe. Loko confers the asson (or not) and empowers the asogwe to initiate others. He gives, but he can also take away and so our lesson from him is to behave with respect and dignity towards our initiatory parent, our siblings who have walked the road before us, and towards him and the lwa in general who have allowed us to get where we are.

Ayibobo pou ou, Loko Atissou; gran poto mitan, mèt asson, premye houngan, e li ki pote gwo benediksyon yo.

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Salye Alexina, Antre Kanzo 2018

Kay Manbo Maude/Sosyete Nago, Jacmel

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As part of Antre Kanzo, Ayizan is saluted and invited into possession, as she is intrinsic to the kanzo process. As the first manbo, she maintains the purity of the djevo/initiatory chamber and all initiates are her children in the same way that all manbo/houngan asogwe are the children of Loko, the first houngan who confers the asson upon asogwe and allows them to use it, and Ayizan's husband.

In this photo, Manbo Benita is mounted with Ayizan.

Ayizan mache, Antre Kanzo 2018, Kay Manbo Maude/Sosyete Nago, Jacmel.

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Trase veve, Antre Kanzo 2018

Kay Manbo Maude/Sosyete Nago, Jacmel

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Antre Kanzo, 2018. The lineage head brings out the new to-be initiates, accompanied by the la plas of the house (bearer of the machete, plus the dwapo/ritual flags) into a packed temple to greet the spirits and hear their advice ahead of being put into the djevo and for the community to see them and acknowledge their coming sacrifice. At this point, those who are to go into the djevo are nameless and faceless, poised for a ritual death with the promise, if they do the work, of rebirth from the waters of Ginen, the realm of the spirits.

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Manbo Maude and Manbo Taleah (Manbo Maude’s natural daughter) mounted by Ezili Danto at the same time.

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Gede cannot enter the djevo, so he gets a spot just outside of it during kanzo.