The Baka Made from Jealousy

1
The Baka Made from Jealousy

• Chapter 5 tells the story of Philomise, Mama
  Lolas mother, and of how Philomise lost her own
  mother twice on account of jealousy.

2
Port-de-Paix

• Madame Fouchard became godmother to Sinas
  daughter Philo.

3
Port-de-Paix

• Madame Fouchard became godmother to Sinas
  daughter Philo.
• When Philo was 5-years-old, the Fouchards were
  scared by a Baka, an evil spirit that appeared to
  Madame one night.

4
Port-de-Paix

• Madame Fouchard became godmother to Sinas
  daughter Philo.
• When Philo was 5-years-old, the Fouchards were
  scared by a Baka, an evil spirit that appeared to
  Madame one night.
• When the Fouchards decided to move, Madame asked
  Sina to take Philo with her. Sina thought this
  would more give Philo more opportunities in life.

5

• Philo became a servant at the Fouchards
  household, and was treated like a slave.

6

• Philo became a servant at the Fouchards
  household, and was treated like a slave.
• When Philo was seventeen, she went to the store
  and never came back. She escaped to Santo Domingo
  in the Dominican Republic with some friends.

7

• Philo became a servant at the Fouchards
  household, and was treated like a slave.
• When Philo was seventeen, she went to the store
  and never came back. She escaped to Santo Domingo
  in the Dominican Republic with some friends.

8

• Philo began to work at the marketplace.

9

• Philo began to work at the marketplace.
• As she grew up, she began trading with her
  sexuality as well.

10

• Luc Charles fell in love with Philo. He won her
  heart, and they had a child together, Frank.

11

• Luc Charles fell in love with Philo. He won her
  heart, and they had a child together, Frank.
• Luc was very jealous of Philo, and very
  threatened by her independence as a market woman.

12

• Philo went back to Haiti and found her mother in
  Gros Morne, where she stayed for a month.

13

• Philo went back to Haiti and found her mother in
  Gros Morne, where she stayed for a month.
• Years later, her mother was poisoned by Alphonse
  Macenas twin daughters.

14

• While in Haiti, Philo had a dream in which a
  spirit told her that her friends son would die
  if he stayed at the hospital. The boy was saved.

15

• Philo knew that serving the spirits could bring
  financial security, but she was afraid of the
  loneliness, commitment and life change that this
  decision would bring.

16
Serving the Spirits

• A lifelong commitment and a heavy responsibility.

17
Serving the Spirits

• A lifelong commitment and a heavy responsibility.
  
• Yet, it can be seen as an economic strategy.
  Philo and Alourdess decisions to work as healers
  came in times of financial crises. Both
  eventually found more regular income doing spirit
  work than they were able to get in the job
  market.

18

• Decision to become a healer can also be seen as
  an alternative to inadequate love relationships.
• Vodou spirits are ideal lovers protective,
  constant, powerful, and benevolent.

19
Kouzinn

• Female counterpart of Azaka
• Different from the other Vodou spirits.
• Does she not have a Catholic counterpart.
• Always paired with her man, and in the ritual
  context, always dependant on him.

20
Kouzinn

• Deals with some of the most important issues in a
  womans life.
• Is a market woman, a machann, with a keen
  business sense.

21
In the countryside

• It is womens savings that can help them out in
  times of distress and difficulty.

22
In the cities

• Women are often independent from men.
• Many families are headed by women, and women have
  more jobs available to them than men.

23

• Men think it is not dignified to exploit several
  small and erratic sources of income.

24

• Womens financial independence threatens men.
• Women find that this situation is a burdensome
  responsibility rather than a liberation.

25

• Mama Lolas family line is filled with strong
  women who worked on small-scale commerce in order
  to survive, from Sina, to Philo, to Mama Lola.

26
Selling Sex

• Was the fate of both Philo and Mama Lola, until
  they turned to the marketplace of the spirits.

27

• Mama Lola is in a better economic position than
  that of all other members of her family back in
  Haiti.

28

• In the emotional economy of extended families in
  Haiti, it is expected that those who fare better,
  particularly those living abroad, will help their
  family in need.

29

• Those abroad struggle to keep the dream alive.

30

• In going back with material and spiritual things
  to give, however, Alourdes makes a great effort
  in maintaining her relationships with family
  within the realm of reciprocity.

31
Ritual Feeding of the Poor

• An expensive ritual obligation Mama Lola needed
  to undertake on behalf of the family.

32
Ritual Feeding of the Poor

• Involves feeding the poor at the cemetery, and
  inviting them to a large feast where they are fed
  all kinds of local delicacies.

33
Ritual Feeding of the Poor

• The main part of the ritual for those offering it
  happens at the end of the dinner, when the poor
  wipe their hands on the hands, face, arms, and
  clothes of the ceremonial leader, in this case,
  Mama Lola. This is the blessing the poor bestow
  upon Alourdes and her family .

34

• Discuss with your neighbour your impressions on
  the ritual feeding of the poor.