History of Vodou - Vodou History of Politics & Slavery | Religion and Spirituality
By DanielCasey
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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. But the peoples of the Kongo, as well as the Central African regions - including Bakongo, and the Yoruba of Nigeria - are also origins of Vodou.
Vodou should be conceived more as a process shaped by its practitioners, rather than as a static entity. To understand this process better, particularly Vodou's visual and performative aspects, it's necessary to look at the development of Vodou within a historic, social, and political framework.
Vodou in general is a religion of tolerance. It freely borrows from other traditions to keep alive African beliefs. This is seen especially clearly in Haitian Vodou.
Haitian Vodou
Haitian Vodou is an initiatory tradition that is practiced by 90% of the population of Haiti - the poor and poor working class. Today, the nation of Haiti's population is made up of people whose ancestors were brought over as slaves from various African Tribes. The major elements of Haitian Vodou religion come from these old African religions that the slaves brought with them, combined with the Catholicism Haiti's French occupation forced upon them.
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 borrowed from many other influences, including bits and pieces from the indigenous Taino Indians, Freemasonry, European mysticism, and Roman Catholicism.
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.
Haitian art, for example, 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 arrived in 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. However, dating back before the revolution of 1776 evidence shows forms of vodou existed in the United States.
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.
About the Author
For an in-depth look into the Vodou religion, check out our Vodou book, The Art of Vodou
- the only comprehensive Vodou guide available online.
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