The threat of getting to someone with obeah is a threat that still raises coldseed all across Belize. And it's a threat that's been current for centuries: as voodoo, obeah, Santeria, and Pocomania are spiritual practices which can be traced back to the traditions of the Mayas, Africans, and Europeans. But what you may not know is that these traditions have much more in common with Christianity than you thought. The "African based religions in the new world" exhibition opened today at the Government House of Culture. The Institute of Social and Culture Research's Director Lita Krohn says the connection is in the spirit.
Lita Krohn, House of Culture
"We thought we would explore other avenues such as the voodoo from Haiti, Pocomania from Jamaica, the Santeria from Cuba, and our own Garifuna spirituality. I think its important to know that Hollywood has really given African based religions a bad rap and we wanted to clear it up. Also it is going to be used in the CXC exams. I think it will teach us to not be presuming or assuming anything about anyone's beliefs. People reach the Supreme Being by many different ways. It will show us tolerance, understanding, and it would educate us into seeing what other people are believing and not being so uppity about what we believe in because maybe we are the so-called Christians."
The exhibition will run for a month.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
