Miriam Chamani
Encyclopedia
Priestess Miriam Chamani (born Mary Robin Adams, Jackson, Mississippi
, 1943) is the Mambo
(Mother/Priestess) and co-founder of the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple
.
In 1982 Chamani was ordained a bishop in the "Angel Angel All Nations Spiritual Church". In 1989 she met Oswan Chamani; they were married in 1990, and would go on to found the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple together. After his death on March 6, 1995, Miriam Chamani continued her husband's Belizan Vodou and herbalism
traditions, in addition to her own spiritualist practices. She also continues many of the inclusive trends of Black Christian Spiritualism, seeking to serve all peoples regardless of race or belief. She is presently married to environmentalist Allen Villeneuve.
Chamani has been featured in numerous documentaries and articles. She has been appeared in The New York Times
in articles about Voodoo
and events in New Orleans, as well as features in Spin Magazine
, in movies, and on PBS and commercial TV in America, England and Japan. She was invited by actor Nicolas Cage
to perform a blessing ceremony during his wedding to Lisa Marie Presley
, after hiring her as a consultant for his directorial debut film Sonny. On Halloween, 1999, a local radio station asked her to perform a ceremony outside the Superdome
to help the New Orleans Saints
win against the Cleveland Browns
(which was interrupted by harassment from a Browns fan dressed as a dog). She claims to have had better results helping the Spurs win the NBA championship in 2004.
next to Congo Square
, and its rituals are directly connected to those performed on Congo Square
by Marie Laveau
and Doctor John. It is the only formally established Spiritual Temple with a focus on traditional West African spiritual and herbal healing practices currently existing in New Orleans.
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, 1943) is the Mambo
Mambo (voodoo)
Mambo is the term for a female High Priest in the Vodou religion in Haiti. They are the highest form of clergy in the religion, whose responsibility it is to preserve the rituals and songs and maintain the relationship between the spirits and the community as a whole...
(Mother/Priestess) and co-founder of the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple
New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple
The New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple was established in New Orleans, Louisiana in May 1990 by Priest Oswan Chamani and Priestess Miriam Chamani. Over the years the Temple has grown in its knowledge of Voodoo in relation with World Religions, and serves many people throughout America and the World...
.
Biography
Raised in Mississippi, Chamani says she has had visions and mystical experiences since childhood. She became a Christian at age eleven, and would often go off by herself to pray and talk to the spirits. In 1975, after living in New York and then Chicago she became interested in the Spiritual church, and left the Baptist faith in which she'd been raised. During this time, she also worked as an operating room technician in a Chicago hospital.In 1982 Chamani was ordained a bishop in the "Angel Angel All Nations Spiritual Church". In 1989 she met Oswan Chamani; they were married in 1990, and would go on to found the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple together. After his death on March 6, 1995, Miriam Chamani continued her husband's Belizan Vodou and herbalism
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
traditions, in addition to her own spiritualist practices. She also continues many of the inclusive trends of Black Christian Spiritualism, seeking to serve all peoples regardless of race or belief. She is presently married to environmentalist Allen Villeneuve.
Chamani has been featured in numerous documentaries and articles. She has been appeared in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in articles about Voodoo
Louisiana Voodoo
Louisiana Voodoo, also known as New Orleans Voodoo, describes a set of underground religious practices which originated from the traditions of the African diaspora. It is a cultural form of the Afro-American religions which developed within the French, Spanish, and Creole speaking African American...
and events in New Orleans, as well as features in Spin Magazine
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
, in movies, and on PBS and commercial TV in America, England and Japan. She was invited by actor Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
to perform a blessing ceremony during his wedding to Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley is an American singer and songwriter, also known as the "Princess of Rock and Roll". She is the only child of Elvis Presley, and daughter of Priscilla Presley.-Early life:...
, after hiring her as a consultant for his directorial debut film Sonny. On Halloween, 1999, a local radio station asked her to perform a ceremony outside the Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
to help the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
win against the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(which was interrupted by harassment from a Browns fan dressed as a dog). She claims to have had better results helping the Spurs win the NBA championship in 2004.
New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple
The Temple was established in 1990 by Priest Oswan Chamani and Miriam Chamani. It is located in the French QuarterFrench Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
next to Congo Square
Congo Square
Congo Square is an open space within Louis Armstrong Park, which is located in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, just across Rampart Street north of the French Quarter. The Tremé neighborhood is famous for its history of African American music....
, and its rituals are directly connected to those performed on Congo Square
Congo Square
Congo Square is an open space within Louis Armstrong Park, which is located in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, just across Rampart Street north of the French Quarter. The Tremé neighborhood is famous for its history of African American music....
by Marie Laveau
Marie Laveau
Marie Laveau was a Louisiana Creole practitioner of Voodoo renown in New Orleans. She was born free in New Orleans....
and Doctor John. It is the only formally established Spiritual Temple with a focus on traditional West African spiritual and herbal healing practices currently existing in New Orleans.
Partial discography
- Voodoo - (2004) CD recorded at the Voodoo Spiritual Temple. Jose Suescun Music Distribution
Further reading
- Chester, Laura (2000) Holy Personal: Looking for Small Private Places of Worship Indiana University PressIndiana University PressIndiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is an academic publisher at Indiana University that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. It was founded in 1950. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana....
ISBN 0253338042, ISBN 978-0253338044 - Conner, Randy P. & David Hatfield Sparks (2004) Queering Creole Spiritual Traditions: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Participation in African Inspired Traditions in the Americas. Harrington Park Press ISBN 1560233516, ISBN 978-1560233510
- Pile, Steve (2005) Real Cities: Modernity, Space, and the Phantasmagorias of City Life. SAGE PublicationsSAGE PublicationsSAGE is an independent academic publisher of books, journals, and electronic products in the humanities and social sciences and the scientific, technical, and medical fields. SAGE was founded in 1965 by George McCune and Sara Miller McCune. The company is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California,...
Ltd ISBN 0761970428, ISBN 978-0761970422 - Pinn, Anthony B. (1998) Varieties of African American Religious Experience. Augsburg FortressAugsburg FortressAugsburg Fortress is the official publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and also publishes for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada as Augsburg Fortress Canada...
ISBN 0800629949, ISBN 978-0800629946