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Cover Photo "Mississippi River embrace" by Irène Svoronos
My meeting with the people of the Sweet Love Sanctuary and the Société Bayou Ville in New Orleans was a chance encounter this Summer 2024. Most of them came all the way from Houston either to get baptised themselves, or to witness the baptism of their fellow voodoo friends, and pay homage and tribute to Marie Laveau 'the voodoo Queen of New Orleans' born in the French Quarter around 1801. Voodoo as a religious system and belief derives from the historic African kingdom of Dahomey, now Bénin. New Orleans voodoo evolved and emerged as its own practice, driven by the commitment of the free and enslaved African community of New Orleans. This summer evening, everyone was dressed in white, and by chance, so was I that day as it was scorching hot, wandering the streets of New Orleans, taking pictures before the fall of the night. I of course did not at all expect to be invited to tag along and witness the baptism ceremony, and ceremony to Marie Laveau, and had only a roll of Kodak Gold on me, so after the first ceremony was over, as everyone headed to the river, I rushed home to grab my last roll of film (Portra 400, which I pushed one stop in development, shooting at 800 ISO). On this picture, you can see delicate white petals on the skin of the woman at the center of the photograph. Jean Salomon, who oversaw the baptism, is embracing his sister in the community after another member of the community has poured water from the Mississippi River mixed with rhum and white flowers on her head and hair for purification. It was a joyful evening, rhythmed by applause, the occasional passersby, and shouts of Ayibobo! Thanks to everyone for inviting me and allowing me to be there and photograph you all during this important spiritual moment.
