Includes the powerful amengansie slave tradition of calling on the dead, ritual spiritual services, ancestral lineage resurrection, initiation, books from an african diaspora perspective and much more. An introduction to vodun, or voodoo human religions. West african vodun can be seen in practice in african countries and cities throughout history. When west africans were forcibly taken to haiti and other islands in the west indies as slaves, their beliefs spread with them1,2, and also to south america and. Vodun is practiced by the fon people of benin, and southern and central togo. Beads, bones, rags, straw, leather, pottery, fur, feathers and bloodthese a.
It was compiled from ancient sources by his majesty axosu agelogbagan agbovi i, the king of. Asen, ancestors, and vodun tracing change in african art. A serious study that concentrates on the hidden power of objects. West african vodun project gutenberg selfpublishing. Jan 11, 20 voodoo is a fusion of religious practices from africa that takes on different characteristics and emphases when practiced in various locations. It has been suggested that voodoo in west africa evolved from the ancient traditions of ancestor worship and animism. The dahomey kingdom african history documentary youtube. European colonialism, followed by some of the totalitarian regimes in west africa, have tried to suppress vodun as well as other african indigenous religions. St john inaccurately depicts vodun as an evil religion that focuses on human sacrifice, cannibalism and spirit procession. Vodun is practised by the ewe, kabye, mina and fon peoples of southeastern ghana, southern and central togo. Although oshun also spelt osun is regarded principally as a goddess of love, there are. A brief west african history, its past civilization and tourist attractions. It fills a representational gap by providing a forum for serious scholarship and debate on women. West african voodoo, louisiana voodoo also known as new orleans voodoo, haitian voodoo.
The region may be divided into several broad physiographic regions. West african vodun vodun meaning spirit in the fon and ewe language s, in ewe pronounced as vod. Adobe architecture in west africa 2003 and art of the senses. Ritual and religious specialists among the devotees of the vodun divinities in benin any initiate may become a receptacle of the gods. Voodoo, an introductory guide, by riley star is a compilation of many of the worlds recent information regarding this previously obscure african rooted religion. The practice is so ingrained in the country that christians and muslims are nicknamed 5050s, as they often. Vodun meaning spirit in the fon and ewe languages, pronounced with a nasal hightone u. West africa, haiti, puerto rico, brazil, cuba, the dominican republic, and america, especially in louisiana. Readings and films africa and the politics of knowledge.
The popular conception of voodoo includes drums in the night, pincushion dolls, and magical tales of zombies and ghouls. Hwlengan is the only existing codified holy book of african vodun. Born in 1938, ellen sirleaf is the first elected female head of state in africa, serving as the 24th president of liberia from january 16, 2006, until january 22, 2018. The part that goes each vodun sect follows a different loa or lwa, mystery, again confuses african and new world vodou. Some african religions adopted different views through the influence of islam or even hinduism. Intro into the voodoo deities and the origins of voodoo search for uhuru. Vodoun, voudou, voodoo, sevi lwa is commonly called voodoo vudu by the public. Worship of the vodun is the original source of the haitian religion of vodou, which emerged as a syncretism of african, roman catholic, and caribbean religious traditions by african slaves. This book documents caulders pilgrimage to uncover vodous roots in the west. Shes a spiritual practitioner, and shed share all these books she had on west african history, says brown. The origin of vodun a religion rarely spoken about where our story takes place map of benin map of forest by kevi read our book.
Louisiana also retains a population of african, creole and french descendants who practice voodoo. Akan religion is referred to as akom from the twi word akom, meaning prophecy. West african voodoo has been less influenced than other forms of voodoo because it is practiced in the place of its origination, yet christianitys influence, particularly roman catholicism, is significant. As confusing as spirituality can be, there are 4 easy ways to develop your spirituality, with or without religion. Where our story takes place map of benin map of forest by kevi read our book. Having its philosophical and cosmological roots in ancient african rural societies established in egypt, asia minor, east africa, and ionia, vodun developed into one of the major african religions of the ancient world. The northern portion of western africa is composed of a broad band of semiarid terrain, called the western sudan, stretching from the atlantic ocean on the west to the area of lake chad on the east, a distance of about 2,500 miles 4,000 km. Meme vlafonou is a loving mother of seven children, marie, madeleine, luc, martin, victoire, raphael and galbert. Practitioners of traditional yoruba religion believe in a pantheon of 401 gods known as orisha who govern various aspects of the world and human life. The forms of voodoo practiced today, however, are the results of one of the most inhuman episodes in modern history the african slave trade that took place between the 16 th and 19 th centuries. The world pilgrimage guide web site is the most comprehensive source of information on this subject. Mark of voodoo is the story of her amazing experiences with subsaharan. Asen, canonical metal art objects that are created to honor the spirits of.
Vodun is practised by the ewe, kabye, mina and fon peoples of southeastern ghana, southern and central togo, southern and. People across west africa, especially togo, ghana and nigeria hold similar beliefs but in benin it is recognized as an official religion, followed by some 40% of the population. This book is the first publication in a new series called critical investigations of the african diaspora. I am the first african american to be fully initiated into the pantheon of the african mami wata dan vodun in the united states and am married to the african priest behumbeza. Even if the origin of humanity and the world are explained in vodun mythology, it is not a centered question of the faith. Worship of the vodun is the original source of the haitian religion of vodou, which emerged as a syncretism of african, roman catholic, and caribbean religious traditions by african slaves in hai.
The journal of west african history jwah is a new, important, initiative in the field of african studies published by michigan state university press in collaboration with michigan state universitys african studies center and history department. The yoruba people inhabit the southwestern part of modern day nigeria and the southern part of benin. Art, psychology, and power first edition us first printing edition. It is based upon a merging of the beliefs and practices of west african peoples mainly the fon and ewe. Contrary to popular beliefs, in west african vodun, spells are not cast upon someone. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Intro into the voodoo deities and the origins of voodoo youtube. Intro into the voodoo deities and the origins of voodoo. Project muse journal of west african historyvolume 4. The west african area is important because this is where the majority of slaves departed for the new world. The origins of voodoo, the misunderstood religion ancient. T he vodoun vudu voodoo vodou vodun vaudou vaudaux religion at its cosmological, theological, ritual and philosophical core, is an african ancestral religion, practiced today largely in west africa, haiti and througout the diaspora its fundamental tenants are the honoring of specialized deities typically born to africans and honored along with their ancient, and recent.
Vodun or vudun spirit in the fon and ewe languages, also spelled vodon, vodoun, voudou, voodoo etc. Hence large elements of west african, particularly yoruba, religion blended with catholicism can be found in religions such as vodun also known as voodoo haiti, candomble brazil and santeria carribean. The name was derived from the god vodun of the west african yoruba people who lived in 18th and 19th century dahomey. Vodou is also known as vodoun, voodoo, and by several other variants. Vodun is a religion in which an important part is devoted to the cult of the ancestors. Lavishly illustrated with field photographs, asen, ancestors, and vodun tells the remarkable history of the rise and decline of the sculptural tradition of ancestral asen in southern benin. Vodun is practised by the ewe, kabye, mina and fon peoples of southeastern ghana, southern and central togo, southern and central benin and under a different name the yoruba of southwestern nigeria. In fact, the religion began on the stretch of west african coastline that runs from nigeria to ghana via benin, where its still the dominant religion. It is a syncretic religion that combines roman catholicism and native african religion, particularly from the religion of the dahomey region of west africa the modern day nation of benin. Enslaved blacks also told traditional stories about the spider anansi and the trickster hare. Cartography in the traditional african, american, arctic, australian, and. The descendants of enslaved africans in haiti brought the vodoun from west africa, its customary official home. Blog 3 west african vodun origins, art, belief and. Voodoo, an introductory guide, by riley star is a compilation of many of the worlds recent information regarding this previously obscure africanrooted religion.
Vodun or vudun spirit in the fon and ewe languages, pronounced vod. In the centuriesold african american culture, we have often called the people practicing the magical traditions carried into the new world from their ancestors residing in the areas of west africa as voodoo, vodou, vudu or the vodun. The gullah, african descendants living in south carolina and georgia, are prominent voodooists. Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in an amount of higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme creator, belief in spirits, veneration of the dead, use of magic and traditional. Ask 3 people to define it and you will get three different answers. This book will be of critical importance not only to those concerned with african, african american, and caribbean art, but also to anthropologists, african diaspora scholars, students of comparative religion and comparative psychology, and anyone fascinated by the traditions of voudou and vodun. The text is very informative and wellresearched, and, as the blurb on the back of the book confirms the book is of crucial interest to anyone fascinated by african, african american, and caribbean art, the african diaspora and the traditions of voudou and vodun, and also.
Includes the powerful amengansie slave tradition of calling on the dead, ritual spiritual services, ancestral lineage resurrection, initiation, books from an african. Traditional african religions generally believe in an afterlife, one or more spirit worlds, and ancestor worship is an important basic concept in mostly all african religions. This book has been the inspiration for many hollywood movies and various horror movies since. European colonialism, chiefdoms, traditional beliefs in sorcery and witchcrafts celebration after midnight, cultural heritage, how women secret societies operate and their initiation. Vodoun also spelled voudun, vudun, vodon, vodun, vodou, voudou, etc, or the anglicized voodoo is a traditional monotheistic organized religion of coastal west africa, from nigeria to ghana. Vodun in coastal benin item detail university press vanderbilt. African mythology myth encyclopedia god, story, legend. The caribbean religion known as vodun or voodoo, for example, involves the worship of the vodu, west african gods. Beautiful site featuring an accurate portrayal of the vodoun and mami wata religion, and its dynamic comeback in america. African spirituality is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the black conscious community. An introduction to the basic beliefs of the vodou voodoo. Martin gray is a cultural anthropologist, writer and photographer specializing in the study and documentation of pilgrimage places around the world.
T he vodoun vudu voodoo vodou vodun vaudou vaudaux religion at its cosmological, theological, ritual and philosophical core, is an african ancestral religion, practiced today largely in west africa, haiti and througout the diaspora. However, its origins in africa date back over 6,000 years. The term vodun is derived from the god vodun, who was worshiped by west african yoruba men and women who lived in 18th and 19th century dahomey. Vodun cosmology centers around the vodun spirits and other elements of divine essence that govern the earth, a hierarchy that range in power from major deities governing the forces of nature and human society to the spirits of individual streams, trees, and rocks, as well as dozens of ethnic vodun, defenders of a certain clan, tribe, or nation. Witness the mysterious world of west african voodoo. Mar 24, 2019 in part 1, onuora abuah travels to his boyhood home of benin west africa to learn the history of the 17th century danhome dahomey kingdom which ruled the region. Chapter 3 in the history of cartography volume 2, book three. Discover the best west african history in best sellers. Apr 21, 2015 it has been suggested that voodoo in west africa evolved from the ancient traditions of ancestor worship and animism. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Jan 17, 2018 intro into the voodoo deities and the origins of voodoo search for uhuru.
In scholarly contrast, blier has examined vodunwhich west african residents of. Vodun is an ancient religion practiced by some 30 million people in the west african nations of benin, togo and ghana. West african vodun simple english wikipedia, the free. It is distinct from the various traditional african religions in the interiors of these. Cartography and empire building in nineteenthcentury west africa. This book has been the inspiration for many hollywood movies and various horror movies. Vodun meaning spirit in the fon and ewe languages, pronounced vod.
During a 38 year period he has visited more than 1500 sacred sites in 165 countries. In scholarly contrast, blier has examined vodun which west african residents of. Vodou is a creolized religion forged by descendents of dahomean, kongo, yoruba, and other african ethnic groups who had been enslaved and brought to colonial saintdomingue as haiti was known then and christianized by roman catholic missionaries in. Voodoo was largely practiced by african and indian slaves in the southern regions of the united states and the west indies. That country occupied parts of todays togo, benin and nigeria. Vodun is a syncretic religion with a history estimated by some anthropologists to date back more than 10,000 years. We take a look at the central beliefs, rituals, historical development, and evolution of voodoo through the years.
Art, psychology, and power 1995, won the charles rufus morey prize. Blog 3 west african vodun origins, art, belief and modern. Masterpieces from the william and bertha teel collection 2004. West african vodun news newspapers books scholar jstor february 2011 learn how and when to remove this template message. Although most akan people have identified as christians since the early 20th century, akan religion remains practiced by some, and is often syncretized with christianity. Voodoo, vudu, hoodoo, vodun or vudun spirit in the fon and ewe languages, pronounced vod. A social and iconographic history of a west african sculptural form. Akan religion comprises the traditional beliefs and religious practices of the akan people of ghana and eastern ivory coast. Vodou, also spelled voodoo, voudou, vodun, or french vaudou, a religion practiced in haiti. It is estimated to have existed for more than ten thousand years, having its roots in ancient mesopotamia, egypt and east africa, before spreading to. The origin of vodun a religion rarely spoken about. Popular west africa books meet your next favorite book. The traditional african religions or traditional beliefs and practices of african people are a set of highly diverse beliefs that includes various ethnic religions.
1369 811 658 1333 1113 1108 1115 3 940 995 384 256 1019 1636 866 1571 1392 201 1561 92 64 1581 1341 928 603 1298 1273 1625 1224 554 641 1575 1046 1519 667 524 1226 1428 953 934 468 1218 738 1483 372