Ethnic Distance and Religious Convergence: Shango, Spiritual Baptist, and Kali Mai Traditions in Trinidad

Abstract

Trinidad has been the setting for several important studies of both ethnic differentiation and religious syncretism. Rarely, however, have these topics been related to each other. This article explores ways in which perceived forms of convergence in belief and practice have developed among certain ethnically specific traditions: Shango and the Spiritual Baptist faith among Africans and Kali Mai puja among Hindu Indians. Factors contributing to this process include: common approaches to, and beliefs about, a localized supernatural world; parallel features surrounding ceremonial spirit possession; and among religious leaders, modes of competition to demonstrate a wide range of spiritual competence. Such forms of perceived convergence (often mis-attributed to genuine syncretism), it is argued, are largely made possible by the considerable social distance between Africans and Indians in Trinidad.