ÈZILI DANTÒ (goddess of love, protective mother, and feminine power)

Series: History of Haiti

Year: 2019

Artist: James Thegenus

Medium: Acrylic on canvas with: black volcanic sand, hemp thread, hemp cloth, feathers, seashells, gold wire, beads, bamboo canes, silver leaf, and gold leaf.

Dimensions: 97.5 cm x 130.5 cm

Description of the work:

Elizi Dantò Lwa of love and beauty is the goddess Venus of Vodou, or Haitian vodou. She is a beautiful black woman dressed in dark blue, with a red scarf around her neck.

On her right side, she has two scars (some Vodouists mention three) inflicted by a rival during a fight.

Jealous and demanding, she punishes those who displease her. In her Vèvè, a heart, the symbol of all the Èzilis, is pierced by a dagger. Dantó requires that her servants spend a night with her each week, on Tuesday or Thursday, in a room in their home consecrated to her. She shares devotion with her daughter Anaïse. Her favorite offerings are jewelry, beautiful dresses, perfumes, cigarettes, and rum. Èzili Dnatò and Èzili Mapyang share most characteristics.