Terno Dos Reis, Henry John Drewal, January 5 1998. Madison Libraries Terno Dos Reis (Day Of The Kings)

Material and visual heritage of Manman dlo, Lasiren, Yemọja and Ọṣun.

Dans le vodoun ayitien, on dit que chaque humain marche avec son kò kadav = le corps matériel, son nanm = l'âme, son tibonanj, son gwobanang, ses lwa têt, ses mystères et ses anges. Le kò kadav est, entre autres, l'expression physique et actuelle de tout les ancêtres qui nous habitent. Quand je travaille sur les objets je me sens connectée à un tissage ancestral. Les objets sont plus que de simples ustensiles ou décorations. Ce sont des productions culturelles qui expriment des perceptions philosophiques, scientifiques, esthétiques et qui surtout témoignent de vie humaine !

My photos : Barbados, 2022

I created this blog to share resources about my research work and connect with others who are interested in the theme of African material culture in Caribbean. In a few days, I'll be heading to Barbados for a research mission. It's the most exciting part of the journey : being fully immersed in the field. I can't wait to share photos and moments with locals, researchers, and artists ! I also really want to share a few moments at the Rasta Temple, where an old Ras once taught me how to sculpt. I'm so looking forward to showing you all of this ! With Love.

The Gingerbread Houses of Haïti : Between Heritage and Community After the Haitian Revolution, a new architectural style emerged : the Gingerbread Houses. Designed to break away from French colonial architecture, these homes still drew inspiration from European styles, adapting and reinterpreting them to fit the Haitian climate and aesthetic. Initially, they were built for the elite, who resided in these grand homes, while the general population incorporated certain architectural elements into their own houses. However, beyond their elite origins, these homes have also become spaces of exchange, culture, and resistance. The iconic dancer and choreographer Viviane Gauthier transformed her Gingerbread house into a meeting place for artists, musicians, and dancers ; a space of sharing and transmission deeply rooted in Haiti’s popular and African heritage. This communal way of life, based on solidarity and collective support, has been present in Haiti since the forced arrival of enslaved Africans, particularly the Bossales, who maintained strong community structures. This same philosophy of home-as-community can be found in Edna Brodber’s novel Nothing’s Mat, which explores the idea of the house as a place of gathering, knowledge, and cultural continuity. It deeply resonates with me. When I return to Haiti, I dream of having a large house with a communal space ; a place for family, neighbors, and the village to come together for intellectual and creative activities. A home that is not just a shelter, but a living, breathing hub of culture and exchange. Would you live in a house like this ? How architecture shapes community life in your culture/place ?

REX NETTLEFORD I love him so much, he is a Caribbean thinker who inspires me enormously.

Susan Matthews

Objets blessés - La réparation en Afrique, Gaetano Speranza, 2007

Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University, ile -ife, Nigeria.

Arme d'apparat. Elle a été réalisée à La Rochelle pour Andris Poucouta, macaye (premier ministre) et mafouque (ministre des relations commerciales) à Cabinda.