COSTARICA, COLOMBIA, PANAMA: LE REPUBBLICHE DELLE BANANE

Umido e caldo, foresta nebbiosa, rane colorate, banane e ananas che crescono nelle piantagioni insieme con bellissimi fiori. Grande nave bianca che punta attraverso l'oceano portando deliziosi frutti tropicali ai tavoli europei. Questa può essere poesia, ma dietro c’è l’opprimente duro lavoro di tanti uomini.
Davanti alle piantagioni recintate ci sono cartelli che dicono: “Vietato l’accesso”. I guardiani ci dicono:”Si prega di lasciare la piantagione, la fotografia è strettamente proibita.”
Più di tre quarti del commercio internazionale delle banane sono dominati da tre grandi societ: Dole Food Co.. , Chiquita Brands International, e il cileno Fresh Del Monte (capitale degli Emirati Arabi Uniti). Queste imprese controllano l'intero business delle banane: piantagioni, navi trasporto, impianti di stoccaggio per la maturazione delle banane e hanno la loro propria rete di distribuzione in Europa e negli Stati Uniti.

Jan Sochor Photography

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L’HAITI DI JAN SOCHOR (TAP TAP)

Haiti com’era (estate 2008)

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (estate 2008)

Tap-tap vehicles serve as public transportation in Haiti. They are private, operate over fixed routes, departing only when full. Tap-taps are decorated with bright and shiny colors and with a lot of fancy designed elements. There are scenes from the Bible, Christian slogans, TV stars or famous football players often painted on a tap-tap body. Tap-tap name comes from sound of taps on the metal bus body signifying a passenger's request to be dropped off.

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PALO: AFRICAN RITUAL IN CUBA

Cuba, 2009

The Palo religion (Reglas de Congo) is a syncretic religion which developed amongst the black slaves brought to Cuba from Congo (Africa) during the colonial period. Palo, having its roots in spiritual concepts of the indigenous people in Africa, worships the spirits and natural powers but can often give them faces and names known from the Christian dogma. According to Palo, some spirits may reside in altars (vessels filled up by magical objects) and those are asked for a help during the lithurgy. The Palo ceremony is led by a priest and consists of singing, dancing, drumming and sometimes an animal sacrifice. The Palo magic rituals can work for both – good and ill, depending on the intention and motivation of Palero. Although there have been strong religious restrictions during the decades of the Cuban Revolution, the majority of Cubans still consult their problems with practitioners of some Afro Cuban religion.

Photography by Jan Sochor

A young Cuban man, wearing a red blindfold, passes a secret initiation ritual of the Palo Monte religion in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba..

A Cuban woman sells natural objects (shells, plants, feathers,…) considered as magic elements in the Palo religion, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man, the Palo religion priest, sits in his home temple and prepares himself for a ritual, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man sets up the fire, required for a Palo religion ceremony, on the backyard of his house in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man, the Palo religion follower, draws a magical symbol on the floor of the temple in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. The symbol is the key element to release the spiritual powers linked to the altars..

A Cuban man prepares a goat for a sacrifice, drawing a spiritual symbols on its horns, within the Palo religion ritual in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

A Cuban man, the Palo Monte priest, wearing a typical red and white bracelet, looks out of the window in Havana, Cuba.

Religious symbols and mythological signs belonging to the Afro-Cuban tradition drawn on the wall of the African Culture Heritage Centre in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man, the Palo religion priest, cuts the throat of a goat during the sacrifice ritual in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

The Palo altar (la prenda, or el caldero), a vessel filled up by magical objects, placed on the floor of a house in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

A Cuban woman consults her health problem with a fortune teller, practitioner of a Afro-Cuban religion, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

A Cuban man, the Palo religion follower, holds the Christian cross during the Palo initiation ritual in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

Cuban men, the Afro-Cuban religion belivers, sitting in a passage of the old house in Havana, Cuba.

Afro-Cuban traditional themes, showing colorful dance, spirits and rituals, painted on house walls (murals) in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

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L’HAITI DI JAN SOCHOR (LA CHIESA DI DIO)

Haiti com’era (estate 2008)

Delmas, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

The Church of God (Église de Dieu) is one of the most popular churches in Delmas (Port-au-Prince, Haiti). The Sunday Mass starts early in the morning, worshippers come formally dressed, older women keep their hair covered. Religious songs and prayings sung by hundreds of followers are heard in the whole neighbourhood of Delmas.

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L’HAITI DI JAN SOCHOR (VODOU AND CATHOLIC RITUAL SAUT D'EAU)

Saut d'Eau, Ville Bonheur, Haiti (estate 2008)

Every year in summer thousands of pilgrims from all over Haiti make the religious journey to the small village of Ville Bonheur and the nearby Saut d'Eau waterfall. It is believed that 150 years ago the spirit of Virgin Mary has appeared on a palm tree close to the waterfall. Haitians wearing only underwear perform a bathing and cleaning ritual under the 100-foot-high waterfall. Vodou followers (many Haitians practise both vodou and catholicism) hope that Erzulie Dantor, the Vodou spirit of water, manifest itself and they get possessed for a short moment, touched by her presence.

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