Benin voodoo ritual book

Voodoo is sometimes called vodun, vodoun, and vodou. This book documents caulders pilgrimage to uncover vodous roots in the west african coastal areas of the republic of benin, and there to clarify her role as a vodou which she calls voodoo leader. Like voodoo, hoodoo shows obvious and evident links to the practices and beliefs of african folk ritual culture, having origins in west and central africa. In particular, ouidahs feticheurs enjoy great reputation and the temple of the pythons, despite its small size, represents one of the most. Sep 27, 2015 what makes benin most interesting for tourists is its main religion, voodoo.

An interesting concept of voodoo belief is the ritual that takes place one year and one day after the decease of a relative. Inside the voodoo rituals of haiti national geographic news. An animistic religion whose roots stretch back thousands of years, its name means god, spirit or power in the fon language. Voodoo rituals, world, burial, body, life, beliefs, time. Common african voodoo ceremonies and rituals hoodoowitch. Vodun meaning spirit in the fon and ewe languages, pronounced vod.

An introduction to the basic beliefs of the vodou voodoo. Voodoo culture in benin adventure travel blog wild junket. It is legitimate to be grateful to your forbears who passed on this sense of the sacred, belief in a single god who is good, a sense of celebration. It features voodoo dolls and devotees in animal skins chanting and dancing to. In cotonou, benins largest city, the tourist office told me to return in january, because id only see voodoo at an annual festival in ouidah offering choreographed ceremonies for benins trickle of largely french tourists. Jan 12, 2017 this year she has brought her ancestral quest to benin. The dancing and the tourists gives a folklore feel to the festival, a weeklong event marked by the beach procession on january 10 every year. Voodoo spirits and how to approach them for witches. The two parts consists of tibonange little good angel and grosbonange great good angel. Contentsshow general background voodoo can be traced to the fon and the yoruba people of west africa, who lived in the area that is now togo, benin and nigeria. Voodoo dolls in magick and ritual by denise alvarado. People across west africa, especially togo, ghana and nigeria hold similar beliefs but in benin it is recognised as. Landing in cotonou, i travelled to abomey, porto novo, ganvie, ouidah and finally back to cotonou with my brilliant fixers ulrich and serge david, both very experienced beninese journalists.

Everything from illustrations to rituals where copied from this book. The black mass, for example, is a sacrilegious parody of the catholic mass. This book documents caulders pilgrimage to uncover vodous roots in the. Articles the bradt guide to gods, ghosts and dead people. Vodou rites are done to call upon spirits, called loas or lwas, for their aid, instruction, special powers and strengths. While exploring the cape coast area of ghana, we met apollo, a man with a family history in benin. This year she has brought her ancestral quest to benin.

Youll learn some of the major loa and the families they belong to. However, a user has performed a search that indicated that this is a notable topic. Another place that voodoo is widely practised is in new orleans in the state of louisiana in the usa. At the heart of voodoo are rituals and sacrifice, as i soon find out.

You can help to improve it by adding citations to reliable sources. Benins voodoo festival is held every year and is the west african countrys most vibrant and colourful event. Possession is a sacred ritual that only a few people can practice. Today, there are still communities in the caribbean that still practise voodoo. Voodoo belief states that there are two parts of the human soul. These practices are actually related to the folklore of new orleans voodoo. For voodooists, dances and ceremonies are an important part of their religion. Raised in brooklyn, until the age of caulder was a participant in voodoo rituals. Sep 18, 2019 it involves the veneration of saints and the loa voodoo spirits and the use of folk magic called hoodoo or rootwork. The saying voodoo does not exclude, it includes, embodies an important voodoo characteristic so well that it is used as a leitmotiv throughout the book. Even people who would consider themselves to be christian or muslim generally follow voodoo practices as well.

The benin voodoo festival is, our excuse to create a west africa benin and ghana as an optional extension incredible photo tour. To practice voodoo is to enter the ancient world of magik, where secret arts developed from rituals held by ancient pagans, native american tribes, haitians, and wiccans. Also all the information that this person knows of voudou does not come from personal knowledge. Incredible video of voodoo culture in benin youtube. In ouidah, a small town and former slave port in the west african country of benin, the annual voodoo festival gathers visitors from far and wide.

The voodoo hoodoo spellbook is a rich compendium of more than 300 authentic voodoo and hoodoo recipes, rituals, and spells for love, justice, gambling luck, prosperity, health, and success. Vodou is also known as vodoun, voodoo, and by several other variants. The origins of voodoo, the misunderstood religion ancient. Voodoos use of roman catholic imagery and ritual is well known, but this is only one example of the ability of voodoo to enhance its liturgy through contact with other systems. Attend a full morning private exclusive voodoo ceremony for the nomad photo expeditions travelers. Apr 21, 2015 in benin and haiti, voodoo is now officially recognised as a religion. Use charms to bring good luck to your relationships, finances, and health. The early origins of voodoo, also spelled vodou, voudou, and voudon, likely came from the west african country of dahomey, now called benin.

Voodoo was originally known as vodun in togo and benin, meaning the mystery or the hidden. Simply put, voodoo is a religion, whereas hoodoo is a group of magical practices. Voodoo claims a prominent place in the identity of benin where the pantheon of gods includes more than 300 deities. The natural womans book of personal charms and practical rituals, by luisah teish. This book documents caulders pilgrimage to uncover vodous roots in the west. In the fon language, the world voodoo means spirit. What makes benin most interesting for tourists is its main religion, voodoo. The slaves brought their religion with them when they were forcibly shipped to haiti and. When a woman is possessed by this superior deity she might not feel pain and can pierce her cheeks with a needle, throw sand in her eyes or swallow fire. Just as surely as haiti is possessed by the gods and spirits of vaudun voodoo, the island possessed katherine dunham when she first went there in 1936 to study dance and ritual. A ritual honoring the met tet may result in an improved love life or better health.

In voodoo beliefs, the soul is made of two parts, the gros bon ange and the ti bon ange. Other more mundane objects are also used in religious ritual. Oct 30, 2017 i got a voodoo amulet in benin and performed a voodoo ritual. Mention the word voodoo and most people conjure images of dolls riddled with nails, and spooky witches casting spells on the innocent. This is thanks to countless movies, folklore, and propaganda. Some anthropologists estimate that voodoos roots in beninformerly dahomeywest africa may go back 6,000 years. The book is richly illustrated with the artwork of the author. Vodou or voodoo is a monotheistic religion that is often misunderstood.

As our west africa tour continued through benin, the subject of voodoo kept coming up. Unfinished, openended, global critical investigations of the. Jul 07, 2004 some anthropologists estimate that voodoos roots in beninformerly dahomeywest africa may go back 6,000 years. 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. For example, a voodoo priestess is often referred to as a mambo or manbo. Im not a follower but i respect voodoo as a religion. Photographs of west africas vanishing voodoo rituals. May 10, 2001 perhaps most disappointingly, this book contains nothing about west african or afrocaribbean divination, which is an essential part of voodoosanteria practice. List of books and articles about voodoo online research library. Jul 18, 2016 their knowledge of herbs, poisons, and the ritual creation of charms and amulets, intended to protect oneself or harm others, became key elements of louisiana voodoo.

This is the way the popular media has portrayed this african religious practice. In benin and haiti, voodoo is now officially recognised as a religion. Random vacay goes to benin, west africa, and the home of the voodoo religion. Rushs book will become a standard reference on vodunvodouvoodoo.

In this book, dunham reveals how her anthropological research, her work in dance, and her fascination for the people and cults of haiti worked their spell. Instead of associating this religion with zombies and voodoo dolls, we should perhaps take the time to better understand voodoo, and view it as a way of life or a set. The biggest religion of benin, voodoo has over 50 million believers in west africa and further huge followings in parts of the caribbean, south america and even some regions of the southern united states. The word voodoo comes from the fon language, in which it means sacred, spirit or deity. John paul iis betrayal in benin by john kenneth weiskittel you have a strong attachment to the traditions handed on by your ancestors. Its a week that brings together priests and dignitaries, rich and poor, locals and visitors from as far afield as the caribbean and france. To this day the word voodoo immediately conjures images of witches, ghost, zombies rising from their graves, ecstatic rituals of frenzied dancing around bonfires w animal or human sacrifices. Voodoo is an oral tradition without a primary holy text, prayer book or set of rituals and beliefs. January 2020 learn how and when to remove this template message. With so many african natives populating the city and keeping close ties, they managed to keep a lot of their oldworld traditions and culture alive. In midlife, native new yorker sharon caulder left her successful physical therapy practice to find her soul among the voodoo people in benin republic, west africa. While voodoo certainly isnt fiction here, witnessing it in action seems unlikely at first.

Jan 29, 2016 in ouidah, a small town and former slave port in the west african country of benin, the annual voodoo festival gathers visitors from far and wide. I got a voodoo amulet in benin and performed a voodoo ritual. I never imagined that id be bartering with a voodoo priest for ritual. Voodoo and vodun books, spells, dolls and supplies. It is recognised as an official religion and is followed by about 60% of the population. Likewise, a saining, though primarily a practice of white magic, is a wiccan ritual analogous. In the tiny west african nation of benin, voodoo remains the state religion.

Nov 26, 2014 random vacay goes to benin, west africa, and the home of the voodoo religion. In different regions, voodoo practices, the names of gods and other traits can vary considerably. Presiding over the beliefs of nearly 80% of benins population, during the annual voodoo festival the most powerful fetish ritual takes place at benins eccentric python temple. Vodun meaning spirit in the fon and ewe languages, pronounced with a nasal hightone u. Mark of voodoo is the story of her amazing experiences with subsaharan african voodoo the root of all voodoo including her initiation into the spiritual hierarchy as a fullfledged. In this article, im going to skip over the basics youve probably heard of from popular culture. Other words used in voodoo today also come from the fon and kongo languages. Benin is the place where the voodoo, or vodu, was born and today is the official religion of the country.

These fetish origins of worship predate many religions by 10,000. Loas are ancestral spirits who have become abstracted through the generations to become embodiments of certain principles or characteristics. In this book, you will find a plethora of authentic voodoo and hoodoo rituals for. In cotonou, benin s largest city, the tourist office told me to return in january, because id only see voodoo at an annual festival in ouidah offering choreographed ceremonies for benin s trickle of largely french tourists. As previously mentioned, the soul is an integral facet of voodoo. The truth is that its not about voodoo dolls, zombies, magic spells and love potions like many seem to believe. Benin is one of only two countries in the world where voodoo is the official religion the other being haiti, in the caribbean. These individuals become possessed with the spirit of voduns. So did i until my recent trip to west africa, the birthplace of voodoo. Some believe that the terms may have a common etymology.

This book, photographed in benin, west africa is a companion to a yet to be. The word voodoo comes from the fon language, spoken in benin, meaning a kind of power which is mysterious and, at the same time, fearsome. Beyond black magics links to organised satanism or its historical persecution by christianity and its inquisitions, there are links between religious and black magic rituals. Benin voodoo festival in pictures world news the guardian. Cultural psychologist and root worker denise alvarado, who grew up in new orleans, draws from a lifetime of recipes and spells learned from family, friends. There does not appear to be enough references currently present in this article to demonstrate notability. Voodoo is more than a synthesis of different african beliefs because it incorporates significant influences from christianity.

Also, the stuff this book includes rituals associated with the druids and other forms of european paganism. However, as with any religion, followers of vodou cannot be lumped into a single category. The temple of pythons is one of the most revered places in voodoo belief as the pythons are considered to be important totems. Jan 08, 2002 in midlife, native new yorker sharon caulder left her successful physical therapy practice to find her soul among the voodoo people in benin republic, west africa. Hoodoo and voodoo are often mistaken for one another. People across west africa, especially togo, ghana and nigeria hold similar beliefs but in benin it is recognised as an official religion, followed by some 40%. Common in haiti and new orleans, vodou merges catholic and african beliefs to form a unique set of rituals that include voodoo dolls and symbolic drawings. The extraordinary voodoo festival which takes place in ouidah, benin every year on 10 january is a once seen, never forgotten experience. Its the must attend event in the voodoo calendar a celebration of the voodoo religion and the cults associated with it and draws fetish priests, adepts, traditional chiefs and onlookers from far and wide. Mounted by the gods 01 by alberto venzago, wim wenders isbn. Voodoo believers are most numerous in haiti, where voodoo was granted official religious status in 2003, and in benin, where the religion has had official.

Jun 15, 2012 benin s voodoo festival is held every year and is the west african countrys most vibrant and colourful event. These fetish origins of worship predate many religions by 10,000 years and keep a link of ancestry alive in west africa. In the past centuries, voodoo was born in the region between abomey and ouidah in benin. Instead, im going to focus more on the spirits of voodoo magic called loa also spelled lwa. Pythons, preserved skulls and voodoo ceremonies drew us from ghana to benin, the birthplace of voodoo. Also the ritual calls used for the lwa, are not voodoo or haitian for that matter. Voodoo hoodoo spellbook by denise alvarado, paperback. The ouidah voodoo festival in benin exploring africa. First up, a spirit appears for the first time in seven years and. Nevertheless, voodoo is still a rather misunderstood religion due to its inaccurate portrayal by the media. Visiting the birthplace of voodoo houstonia magazine. The benin voodoo ceremony includes killing a goat and a procession. Nearly half of benins population practices voodoo officially, and.

Voodoo originated in the african kingdoms of fon and kongo as many as 6,000 years ago. It involves the veneration of saints and the loa voodoo spirits and the use of folk magic called hoodoo or rootwork. The term voodoo comes from the term vodou which translates to god or spirit, which came from benin, africa. It is distinct from the various traditional african religions in the interiors of these. Voodoo is invested in all parts of haitian life and has a considerable influence on each person and on each natural element. Popular haiti voodoo books meet your next favorite book. Today an estimated 60 million people practice voodoo worldwide. This book documents caulders pilgrimage to uncover vodous roots in the west african coastal areas of the republic of benin, and there to clarify her role as a vodou which she calls voodoo.

Learning about voodoo in benin happy days travel blog. Charms and rituals to empower your life leah gordon london. The rituals and ceremonies of the voodoo religion in benin. The voodoo festival or the fete du vaudou on 10 january is a celebration of traditional religions in the west african country of benin, the cradle of the voodoo cult. Apart from the stunning images of this little book, i was quite appalled by its content and implications. Learn how to make three kinds of voodoo dolls, find over 40 spells and rituals to find love, attract wealth, offer protection, and promote healing and happiness. The countries of togo and benin in west africa are the main source for.

After all, benin is where voodoo, or vodun as it is known here, first began. Understand voodoos underlying ideas and learn to make use of its powers with illustrated instructions and exercises. Religions related to voodoo are candomble, lucumi, macumba, and the religion of yoruba. Published on nov 26, 2014 random vacay goes to benin, west africa, and the home of the voodoo religion. Caulder details her initiation rites and many voodoo rituals as she explains a religion. This post discusses voodoo in benin, the birthplace of the religion. Mark of voodoo is the story of her amazing experiences with subsaharan african voodoothe root of all voodooincluding her initiation into the spiritual hierarchy as a fullfledged. Descendants of slaves on a voodoo pilgrimage in benin.