7. Gou, Chains, and
the Memory of Ouidah
DESCRIPTION
This station features a segment of a slave chain integrated into the altar of Gou, a Vodoun deity, symbolising the preservation of patrimonial memory through Vodoun rituals. By incorporating this relic into a sacred space, Vodoun spirituality transforms an instrument of oppression into a medium for remembrance and collective resilience. The altar thus becomes a site where the painful history of the slave trade is not only recalled but also reinterpreted through the cultural and spiritual lens of its inheritors. This practice highlights the vital role of African traditions in safeguarding memory and reaffirming identity in the face of historical trauma. It stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and cultural continuity, demonstrating how Vodoun serves as both a conduit for remembrance and a force of spiritual and communal renewal.
LITERARY EXCERPT: Wologuèdè, la chaîne incarcérée, 2024, by Flavien Zountcheme.
You chains! / Symbols of alienation! / Symbols of injury! / Symbols of submission! / Symbols of bruises! / I transform you into instruments of reconciliation! / I transform you into images of the future! / And these rings, these multiple rings, symbols of all our brothers and sisters in America, Africa, and the Caribbean, healed of all their burns and tears, on their way to rebuilding the regained greatness of our Nation. / The great Black Fraternal Nation (Back cover)