Guest Post: Nouvelle Noir Goddess take on Pagan from the African Traditionalist Community

Find other posts related to this topic on the link round-up post!

Daughters of Eve Contributor, Nouvelle Noir Goddess, offers her view on the current debate:

I’ve read numerous thought provoking and inspiring personal testimony by individuals thought on referencing themselves Pagan, Polytheist, or the likes. Each contributor to the debate gave me insight on how at times one feels alienated or together with Pagan community as a collective whole.

In my experience with the African Traditionalist “community” there are even debates on what individuals prefer to call themselves: Yoruba based religions, African Traditional Religion, Pagan, our exact religion name (Ifa, Vodou, Hoodoo, Batuque, ect). We also don’t come into an agreement with names of practitioners (Bruja/Brujos or Curanderas for Spanish speaking practitioners, mainly Mexico, for an example). Even in my native familial country of Haiti there is many divination of what Vodou is. Some believe that monotheism best describes the religion. Since there is a Supreme Deity, who is remote or “active” pending on the practitioner. Monotheism doesn’t have negative connotations for many Haitians. Similar to Catholicism is seen as Monotheist with saints as intermediaries. So, it is with the concept of monotheism in Vodou (and its many forms: Vodun, Vodu, Voodoo,ect) or Fon Religion (Vodou is Fon based not Yoruba based). Nevertheless, there are individual practitioners who find comfort with using the terminology of polytheism/polytheist for they don’t feel the connection with the Supreme deity. At times, the Supreme deity can be “out of sight out of mind.”

There is another growing use of the terminology of “Pagan” and “Wiccan” with many immigrants from Latin American society who still holds onto their indigenous practices. For many immigrants identifying themselves as “Wiccan” is away to inform “the others” who are not of their practice that their religion is “peaceful” and “nature based.” I’ve actually heard Santeria practitioners tell others that they are Wiccan. Their intention is not degrade the actual Wiccans but to inform U.S. unknowledgeable “spectators” that they are not sinister, since Wicca is a religion that most “mainstream” Abraham followers at least heard of or know of. Believe it or not, it does hold less negative stigma to refer oneself as Wiccan than hougan, mambo, Vodou/Santeria practitioners, and the likes. I’m sure Wiccans born in the states and raised in the states may not believe it. Yet, it is these individuals truth. So, many times when I tell individuals that I am Pagan, who are not Pagan, jump into the next question of, “Are you Wiccan?” Wiccan is not seen as a “threat” than being from a religion that is not indigenous or known in the U.S. Yes, there is more awareness of Wicca than any other “Pagan” denominations/faith. This is were I can appreciate non-Wiccans sentiments in feeling alienated by the media.

On the other hand, one thing is for sure within the African Religion based communities: no matter what we call ourselves we are still one. If a Vodou practitioner, not all but for the most part the majority, hear anything negative with their cousin religion of Santeria they will unite as one. For all in all we do share a common ground: being a minority religion, similar but different concepts, similar but different rituals, similar but different history, and an overall sense of appreciation, respect, and understanding.

This I’ve seen within the Christian community, as well. Individual Christian denomination and followers disputing their “Christendom” but when “outsiders” say something…they unite. When it comes to issues they share in common, they unite. Currently there is a debate of Mormons not being a Christian and/or Mormons are Christians. Nevertheless when Mormons were the biggest factor in the opposition for California prop 8 nobody questioned Mormons Christianity. For that brief moment “they” were all Christians. One analogy can I use is family bickering back and forth: cousins, aunts, uncles, siblings, and parents. Yet, if an outsider states anything “foul” about one of the family members—they unite against that outsider. Even if the outsider may state verbatim what an individual family stated… “not ok. They are family! So “I can say whatever I like. YOU can’t” mentality erupts.

This is how I personally feel about the debate currently going on. Yes, it is insightful and a much needed discussion on how individuals feel with the being labeled “Pagan” There is a lesson we can learn from it. Yet, when push comes to shove—we are just any other family. We will unite. We will set our indifferences aside to promote awareness, tolerance, education, and eradicate hatred from those who are “outside” of us. I believe we should at least acknowledge that and embrace it.