Vodun
Vodun(commonly called Voodoo) is a religion whose roots trace back to the West African Yoruba people who lived in 18th and 19th century Dahomey. That country occupied parts of today's Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. Slaves brought their religion with them whyen they were forcibly shipped to Haiti and other islands in the West Indies. Today, over 60 million people practice Vodun. It is the official religion of Benin. Vodun is a religion of many traditions. Each group follows a different spiritual path and worships a slightly different pantehon of spirits, called Loa. Yoruba traditional belief included a chief God Olorun, who is remote and unknowable. He authorized a lessed God Obatala to create the earth and all life forms. A battle between the two Gods led to Obatala's temporary banishment. There are hundreds of minor spirits. Tjose which originated from Dahomey are called Rada; those who were added later are often deceased leaders in the new world and are called Petro. Some of these are Agwe the spirit of the sea, Aida Wedo a rainbow spirit, Ayza the protector, Baka an evil spirit who takes the form of an animal, Baron Samedi the guardian of the grave, Dambala the serpent spirit, Erinle the spirit of the forests, Ezili the female spirit of love, Mawu Lisa the spirit of creation, Ogou Balanjo the spirit of healing, Ogun the spirit of war, Osun the spirit of healing streams, Sango the spirit of storms, Yemanja the female spirit of waters, Zaka the spirit of agriculture. Followers of Vodun believe each person has a soul composed of a gros bon ange(big guardian angel) and ti bon ange(little guardian angel. The latter leaves the body during sleep and when the person is possessed by a Loa during ritual. There is a concern that the ti bon ange can be damaged or captured by evil sorcery while it is free of the body. The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrficies or gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and improved health. Human and Loa depend upon each other; humans provide food and other materials; the Loa provide health, protection from evil spirits and good fortune. Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Loa, for healing, at birth, marriage and death. Vodun priests can be male(houngan), or female(mambo). A odun temple is called a hounfour. At its center is a poteau-mitan which is a pole where the God and spirits communicate with the people. An altar will be elaborately decorated with candles, pictures of Christian Saints, symbolic items related to the Loa, etc. Rituals consist of some of the following components: a feast before the main ceremony, creation of a veve which is a pattern of cornmeal on the floor which is unique to the Loa for whom the ritual is to be conducted, shaking a rattle and beating drums which have been cleansed and purified, chanting, dancing by the houngan and/or mambo and the hounsis(students studying Vodun). The dancing builds intensity until one of the dancers becomes possessed by a Loa and falls. His or her ti bon ange has left their body and the spirit has taken control. The possessed dancer will behave as the Loa and is treated with respect and ceremony by the others present, and animal sacrifice of goat, sheeps, chickens, or dogs usually killed by slitting the throat. Blood of the animal is then collected in a vessel and the possessed dancer may drink some of it. The hunger of the Loa is then believed to be staisfied. The animal is uasually cooked and eaten. The houngan and mambos confine their activities to white magic which is used to bring good fortune and healing. However caplatas perform acts of evil sorcery or black magic. Voduns believe that a dead person can be revived after burial. After resurrection, the zombie has no will of their own, but remains under the control of others. In reality, a zombie is a person that has never died, but is under the influence of powerful drugs administered by an evil sorcerer. Striking pins in Voodoo dolls was once used as a method of cursing an individual by followers of Vodun in New Orleans. This practice continues in South America.
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