Vodunsi

In Fongbe, a Vodunsi is a male or female servant of Vodun, an adept or initiated follower of the Vodun religion. Pronounced another way in Fongbe, Vodunsi is translated as a person who belongs to and is under full protection and guardianship of the Vodun. Generally, one is chosen by a Vodun as early as at birth or at any stage of human development—childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. The Vodun elect finds out that he or she is chosen by the Vodun through close observation of events marking his or her life and, subsequently, by consulting the Fâ, the system of divination through the Bokonon, veritable interpreter of the Fâ.

To become a Vodunsi proper, one must receive the initiation during an internship that lasts up to 3 years, in the Hun-xwé (esoteric or blood-pact home), the convent, also called Hun-kpamê (blood-pact enclosure), or Vodun-kpamê (Vodun [Page 700]enclosure). Upon entering the convent, the new member is possessed by the Vodun and she or he becomes Vodunsi ipso facto, more precisely Hundéva (he or she who has entered the convent). However, the initiation is a long process that has several stages. During the first 3 months, the newcomer is Hundoté (a new member awaiting initiation) or Kajèkaji (one more gourd having joined the existing gourds), that is, the neophyte. In the convent, the neophyte is trained under the supervision of the Xwégan (head of the house) and the Kangan (the rope master) or he who enforces discipline.

The Hunxwé is a stern training center, where the elect is initiated into the immutable rites and principles of the Vodun to whom he or she is consecrated for his or her whole life. Before the neophyte is introduced to anything in the convent, he or she must take a vow of loyalty and absolute discretion. The guiding principle of the Hunxwé is a saying, “The reason we have two ears, two eyes, and only one mouth is that we may hear more and see more, but speak less.” The curriculum is all-encompassing and includes courses on the Vodun code of conduct, its history, rites, taboos or proscriptions, the Vodun language, ululation, cultural chants, Vodun songs and dance, walk on all fours, litanies, and incantations, as well as the healing properties of herbs. The Vodunsi is permanently marked and tattooed all over. Tattooing is both a religious symbol and an adornment for the Vodunsi, especially during Vodun festivals.

During the internship in the convent, the Vodunsi is taught several income-generating activities such as basket weaving, pottery, raffia matting, hat making, tie-dyeing, the rope-making trade, fowl raising, and sculpture, which are sold in local markets by the convent servants. The Vodunsi has a hectic daily schedule under strict supervision of Vodunsi trainers who report to the Hunnon, also called Houngan or Hungbonon, the paramount Vodun priest. The training is so intensive that the Vodunsi barely has break time. Laziness is considered a scourge because one rule in the Vodun convent is that Kajêkaji mon no do bwemê mlon, the neophyte does not take afternoon naps.

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