The community has preserved many traditions from its African roots, including healing ceremonies that they say call up spirits from their ancient homeland.
Louis's staff is ornamented with miniature putti, or spiritelli, the Renaissance "spirits" based on ancient Roman cupids among the many on view are marble versions, a whole flock at play on a 2nd-century child's sarcophagus and one gleefully ready for mid-15th-century fountain duty.