Hello Friends,

Bonga Jean-Baptiste is world-renowned master drummer and traditional lineage holder from Haiti. His life's dream is to restore his family's temple and maintain it as one of Haiti’s national treasures where rhythm, song, dance are used for the healing of the Earth and all peoples. It is also one of the only places in the area where there is clean well water available for the community.

We are reaching out to ask for your support to help Bonga rebuild his family's temple in Croix Des Mission, just outside of Port-au-Prince Haiti.

Very little is known about authentic Vodou healing arts, its practices and way of life. Passed down through the generations and featured in Maya Deren’s iconic work Divine Horsemen, Bonga’s lineage and family temple are cornerstones of Haiti’s cultural legacy. As modernization continues to erode Vodou’s cultural landscape, there are very few people alive today who carry the intact ancestral knowledge that Bonga holds.

Built in the 1960s by Bonga's father, the legendary houngan and veterinarian André “Bobo” Jean-Baptiste, the temple is considered a landmark of Afro-Haitian history, representing love, hope, resilience, and connection for so many people. Though part of the building was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake, the compound has continued to be a cultural and spiritual lifeline for the community and is one of the last remaining traditional Vodou temples in the area.

The situation in Haiti is dire right now. The country is going through a time of great chaos and fear. Now, more than ever, Haiti needs its music and traditions to feed the spirit of the people. More than ever, the people need to dance, sing, and reclaim the joy in living as practiced for generations.

With your support, this temple will once again provide:

♥️    Fresh drinking water access from a clean well to those in need
♥️    Free community meals in a region where hunger is widespread
♥️ Workshops in Afro-Haitian music, dance, traditions and spiritual arts
♥️ A refuge for meditation, healing, and cultural preservation
♥️ Hope, dignity and joy for generations to come

Your donation will go directly toward:

🔹   Construction materials to rebuild the temple
🔹   Water filtration systems
🔹   Food for community distribution
🔹   Instruments and supplies for cultural workshops
🔹   Furnishings to restore the space as a welcoming community refuge

Please give what you can and share this campaign to help Bonga rebuild the temple and keep the sacred art of Haitian Vodou alive.

This is Bonga’s dream.

Thank you so much for your support!

For more information on Bonga, please visit www.bongamusic.com

The Bonga Culture Center

Help Rebuild a Sacred Temple and Community Center in Haiti