By Daniel Casey
The Dahomey word for 'spirit' is Voodoo, or Vodou as the Haitians spell it. Vodou is considered to be any spirit that can be found in nature. Voodoo is a derivative of the world's oldest known religions which have existed in Africa since the beginning of human civilization. Some estimate these civilizations and religions to be over 10,000 years old.
Vodou originates from the western nations of Africa, primarily from the ancient kingdom of Dahomey, which is now present day Benin. Vodou also came from the peoples of the Kongo as well as the Central African regions, including Bakongo, and the Yoruba of Nigeria.
Vodou can be considered a religion shaped more by the evolution of its practicioners than as a static dogma. Therefore, it's necessary to consider the evolvement of Vodou religion from within the framework of its history - politically and socially.
Freely borrowing from other traditions in order to keep its ancient African beliefs alive, Vodou is truly a religion of tolerance. Haitian vodou is a clear example of this.
Haitian Vodou
Haitian vodou is a religion with an initiatory tradition. It's practiced by 90% of Haiti's population - Mainly the poor and working class. Decendants of slaves that were brought to Haiti from various African tribes are the people that comprise the nation of Haiti today. The predominant elements of Vodou come from the ancient African religions that these slaves brought with them to Haiti, mixed with Catholicism forced upon them by the French.
Vodou offers a system of beliefs that provides Haitians both meaning and solace - qualities that are in short supply in a country with no public schools, few working sewers, no public transportation, little industry, and no good roads. Haitian vodou is also highly eclectic: Attemping to recreate their religious culture in Haiti, African slaves expropriated a huge repertory of influences, including bits and pieces from the indigenous Taino Indians, Roman Catholicism, Freemasonry, and European mysticism.
Vodou, being outlawed within Slavery, had to find a mask if it were to survive oppressive ideologies from Europe. In fact many of the Lwa are known to be of pale skin as opposed to African in their Descent.
These roots are quite evident in Haitian Vodou today. Even Haitians who are not Vodou initiates and do not serve any particular lwa hold widespread respect for the tradition of Vodou because it has so stongly influenced art and musical styles.
For example, Haitian art absorbs and interprets visual culture so masterfully because of its foundation in Vodou - a religion and way of life that was born and survived due to its history of accommodation and inclusion.
New Orleans Vodou | Hoodoo Voodoo
Haitian vodou crossed over to the United States as early as the 1800s, but surfaced mainly in New Orleans. One practitioner that popularized it in the area was the famed Vodou Queen Marie Laveau, but other forms of vodou existed in the United States dating before the 1776 revolution.
Hoodoo and Voodoo are both practiced in Louisiana and have many things in common. However, there are differences between the two. Voodoo is a religion, and Hoodoo is an African-American system of folk magickal practice that has typically been handed down from generation to generation. HOODOO, though not a religion, is the folk magic of the common people in West Africa, just as it is in the diaspora today. From so-called love potions," to taking vegenace upon an enemy, Hoodoo is largely what has survived the religious persecution of the Africans enslaved in the New World.
A deep-rooted and serious religion with many rituals, spells, and practices - Voodoo takes believers into the spiritual and transcendental world. Vodou praticioners DO often experience the outcome or impact Vodou spells and ceremonies were meant to bring about. Communicating with passed loved ones, spiritual cleansings, healings and insight - For those who believe in the power, Voodoo is dominant.
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