Embodied Altars | Ritual of Dispel
Embodied Altars / Ritual of Dispel | Performance | 2025
Embodied Altars / Ritual of Dispel | Performance | 2025
Embodied Altars / Ritual of Dispel | Wax Sculptures | 2025
Embodied Altars | Ritual of Dispel
How does nationhood defy and implicate a divide of Afro-ritual practices? The concept of nationhood poses complex challenges and implications for Afro-ritual practices, particularly in Dominican and Haitian relations. “Embodied Altars | Ritual of Dispel,” a multi-dimensional performance by Yelaine Rodriguez, critically investigates the detrimental effects of Dominican nationhood on the interrelations between Dominicans and Haitians, as well as on Afro-spiritual traditions across the island.
This performance intricately weaves together various Afro-syncretic religious practices, drawing on the rich cultural tapestries of Dominican and Haitian Vodou, Brazilian Candomblé, and Santería aesthetics. Accompanying the ritual is a video collage that incorporates archival footage from carnivals, alongside performances by Haitian and Dominican musicians from the (1980s-1990s) and contemporary interpretations of “música de palo.” This audiovisual component also documents acts of contemporary resistance, as well as the pressing political issues of migration and mass deportation affecting the region.
Moreover, the performance includes poignant testimonies from Dominicans of Haitian descent who have been adversely affected by current Dominican deportation policies, thus highlighting the human impact of nationalistic frameworks. The ritual further engages with the historical context of the Haitian Revolution, situating it within the broader narrative of Caribbean nation-building.
The performance concludes with an original poem by Afro-Dominican poet Kaila Bule. This poem serves as a call and response to ancestral work, invoking themes of liberation and healing for both the island and its diaspora. This performance ultimately functions as a ritual aimed at dispelling the legacies of colonization, promoting a process of learning and self-decolonization through the lens of Afro-spiritual practices.
Photos by Emily-Melissa Walker