THE ORIGINS OF VOODOO
The Vodun religion is possibly as old as the first humans to inhabit West Africa. It is widely accepted that the Yorube tribe that occupied Dahomey (now parts of Togo, Benin and Nigeria), were the originators of the Vodon religion. Vodon is also known as Vodoun, Vodu, Sevi Lwa and in western culture as Voodoo. The word Vodun seems to translate in several different dialects with meanings such as "The Great Creator" or "Great Spirit".
Yoruba traditional belief included a chief god God named Olorun, who is remote and unknowable. He authorized a lesser God named Obatala to create the earth and all the life on it. A battle between the two Gods led to Obatala's banishment. There are hundreds of minor spirits called Rada that were added later. Many are the spirits of deceased leaders .
Vodun is practiced by sixty million people world wide. Vodun is not a standardized religion. As it has spread throughout the world it has been adapted to fit whatever culture it has fallen upon. It has become like bush that spreads many seeds, each grows to fit its particular environment but all have some basic similarities.
Various local versions of Vodun are practiced throughout West Africa and in Benin it is the official religion. In the western world many of the Voodoo rites and practices are illegal but there are millions of followers of the branch of Vodun known as Voodoo. It is widely practiced in Haiti as authorities simply turn their backs to Voodoo religious ceremonies. Voodoo also has notable followings in the United States and the Dominican Republic.
THE RELIGION OF VOODOO
Voodooism is based on a belief in magic such as potions, incantations and the casting of spells through the Voodoo Gods or "Loa". The mixture of pagan rituals and Christianity are universal in Voodoo, as is a belief in magic and the power of spirits. This mix of European Christianity and African Vodun is what makes Voodoo a distinctly different religion from either of its predecessors, yet it is still considered part of the Vodun religion by most of its followers.
There are many different sects of the Vodun religion. Some of the major ones stem almost directly from Yoruba Vodun while others have customs of mostly local origin. All of them brought their beliefs to the new world to blend with Christianity and form the Voodoo beliefs. Some of the major Vodun sects are the Roda from the Dohomey, the Wangol from Angola, the Sigini from the Congo, the Ibo from Naga. The Petro sect, which is a mix of the Hatian Arawak Indians and African slaves, are the chief practitioners of the Voodoo branch of Vodun in the western world today.
Very few of the spells, incantations or rituals in Voodoo are written. They are handed down verbally from generation to generation. Unlike other religions, the followers of Vodoo do not attempt to convert others to their religion although most sects will welcome any who wish to join. Once initiated into Voodoo it is said it could be fatal to share the secrets of Voodoo with an outsider.Many of the faithful in the Voodoo religion openly denounce the reputation Voodoo has been given in western society as a dark religion. They consider Voodoo more a way of life than a religion and consider their ceremonies "Celebrations of life".
