ORAL PRESENTATION

When you hear the word obeah what do you think of?

Most persons may think of evilness, sacrifices, maybe even a fake religion.

In the Caribbean voodoo is perceived by most persons as a fictitious spiritual activity that persons
(obeah men and women) performed on others in times of distress to create an easy earning and there is
never any evidence of how this activity actually works and how obeah dwellers learn to perform these
spells. Persons assumed that this cultural activity was based on all hear say. They also think of it as a
manner of devil worship and practitioners are considered as witchdoctors or sorcerers. That’s about as
far from the truth as you can get because an audience analysis show that many of you do not know
about obeah.

Have you ever wondered what it’s all about?

Obeah is a private pursuit, something just between a fellow and his fears. Since obeah is technically
illegal in most regions, its believers maintain a conspiracy of silence. Caribbean Obeah men live in
seclusion in the bush, out of the eye of the law, which is forever on their trail. They speak in unknown
tongues, their powers can both heal and harm and are for hire by rich, poor, black and white.

It’s a religion that originated in Africa. In the Americas and the Caribbean it is thought to be a
combination of various African and Native American traditions and is practiced across the world.

Obeah has no scriptures or world authority. It us community-centered and supports individual

experience, empowerment and responsibility.

Obeah embraces and encompasses the entirely of human experience. It is practiced by people who are
imperfect and may use religion for their own purposes.

Why is Obeah Viewed as a Malicious and immoral Practice?

The religion is encountered with inhibition or fear induced from childhood horror stories, thanks to
popular portrayal by Hollywood. Obeah is perhaps one of the world’s most misunderstood religions.
Most depictions of Obeah shows a dark, mysterious religion that revolves around animal sacrifices,
casting harmful spells, and using it to hurt others. The religion has been villainized by western culture
and has been wrongly portrayed as malignant and dangerous.

Obeah was tainted as evil since the 16th century where Rumors of human sacrifice and devil worship
became prevalent in the social circles of plantation owners and slave traders. The practitioners of Obeah
embraced this fear as means to frighten their former masters and gain some respect in a world where
they were deprived of everything. This early means of freedom through fear is a reason Obeah is still
treated as a sinister religion.

How should we change our views on obeah?

Obeah should be seen as a Religion which have influenced the world for the better and has given people
a spiritual identity. It is an honorable and thoughtful religion which should be commended for its
tenacity through history and its involvement in the lives of so many. It is not that the Obeah practice was
frightening, but that image was adopted as a means to assure its existence. Obeah acted as a symbol of
pride and independence for slaves and ought to be embraced for its strength, rich heritage and history.
Obeah is not like myths and horror movies, rather it is a peaceful and loving religion which can beneficial
to those who care about humanity.