Voodoo has to be one of the most mysterious and misunderstood religions in the world. In modern media the image it presents is of witchcraft, raising the dead and of course voodoo dolls. While Voodoo does definitely have some interesting features, it is quite different to what you may thin. There are several kinds of voodoo now around the world from New Orleans to South America, all of which have their roots in West Africa. So what is West African voodoo?
West African Voodoo?
Voodoo, or properly Vodun, is a religion that has it’s origins in West Africa in the what is now the modern state of Benin. The word Vodun means ‘spirits’ or ‘deity’ in the Fon language which is spoken in southern Benin, the heartland of the origin of the religion.
Vodun, made its way to the Americas via the western African slave trade, where it was supressed and mixed in with Catholicism, giving rise to similar religions such as Santeria in Cuba, Voudou and Obeah across the Caribbean.
What do they believe?
At the heart of Vodun is ancestor worship and deep connection to nature. Vodun recognises a supreme deity known as Mawu. Mawu doesn’t interact with affairs of humans, but instead delegates these tasks to other spirits known as loa.
The loa govern each aspect of life such as war, fertility, justice and the sea. Some of the most important loa are, Sakpata – God of the Earth and healing, Heviosso – God of thunder and Legba – Guardian of the crossroads.
Believers of Vodun also have a strong connection to nature, believing that nature itself is alive and filled with energy. There are many sacred forests, stones, animals etc that are said to contain a spiritual power.
Rituals and Ceremonies
Another key aspect and one that is of interest to many are the rituals of Vodun. No this doesn’t mean they are using voodoo dolls or engaging in human sacrifice, however animal sacrifice is certainly a part of it.
There are many rituals and ceremonies that take places around important life events such as marriage, birth and death, however there are also big festivals that honour major deities and smaller ceremonies to offer things like protection or to pray for good rains or business.
These rituals involve music, dancing (sometimes in a possessed type trance state), animal blood sacrifice, and the use of protective amulets or fetishes (not the naughty kind).
Can you see and experience Vodun?
You can absolutely be a part of some of these ceremonies and you will be able to see elements of vodun across the West African region. The best way would be to go for a major festival celebrating one of the main deities like Heviosso. There are also markets that sell fetish items in many cities, which can make for some questionable souvenirs that most customs would not allow you to bring back. In addition to this, there are also some sacred sites that tourists are allowed to visit such a voodoo forests in Benin and Togo.
If you were visiting Africa do you think you’d be game to attend a Vodun ceremony?
West Africa is one of the more difficult places to travel on the planet, but for those that are willing to venture there amazing experiences await.
We aren’t heading to West Africa just yet, but who knows what the future holds. If you’d like to experience Africa, the Middle East, or Central Asia with us, then check out our website. Or send us an email to [email protected].
