HISTORY LESSON

A West African Explanation of Vodún, also known as Voodoo—debunking myths and explaining its proper historical context

First Principles:

Vodún or vodúnsínsen is an African traditional religion practiced by the Aja, Ewe, and Fon peoples of Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Vodún teaches the existence of a supreme creator divinity (Mawu), under whom are lesser spirits called vodúns. Many of these deities are associated with specific areas.

In an explanation I read from an African, this person said calling the religion Vodún or Voodoo is like calling Christianity “angels”. The Vodún are unseen forces subordinate to a creator. The recognition that the world is affected by unseen forces, which is similar to the starting premise of natural sciences too, is a fundamental concept in what we (non-Vodún practitioners whether African or non-Africans) called Vodún.

In its original context, a lot of what has been portrayed in the media is a mispresentation of what the Aja, Ewe and Fon people believed.

Caricatures of Vodún often misrepresent it as black magic, witchcraft, or harmful occult practices, largely due to colonial-era misunderstandings and Hollywood depictions. According to Aja, Ewe and Fon people, what Hollywood portray as Vodun is Azé (witch craft) or O-bo (occultism). These portrayals falsely emphasize elements like voodoo dolls, curses, and zombies, which are not central to the original/continental West African belief system. In reality, Vodún focuses on the worship of spirits (loa or voduns), ancestral veneration, healing, and maintaining balance with nature. It is a deeply spiritual tradition with ethical principles, community rites, and respect for the divine, far removed from the sensationalized and negative stereotypes imposed by outsiders.

So what are the ethical principles? Community rites? And how do West African Vodún practitioners should respect for the divine?

Ethical Principles in Vodún:

Vodún is deeply rooted in ethical principles that emphasize balance, reciprocity, and respect within the community and the spiritual world. The core idea is that one’s actions affect not only the individual but also the broader community and the natural environment. Ethical conduct is guided by oral teachings, proverbs, and spiritual laws passed down through generations. As detailed in Jacob Olupona’s African Religions: A Very Short Introduction, Vodún morality revolves around maintaining harmony in all aspects of life—whether between humans, ancestors, or the spiritual forces. Wrongdoing, or disrupting this balance, requires atonement to restore harmony. These values are reinforced through communal expectations that individuals honor their obligations to family, community, and the spiritual forces that guide them. In this sense, ethical principles in Vodún are a means of ensuring well-being for both the individual and the collective, with a strong focus on personal responsibility and the consequences of one’s actions within the larger cosmic order.

Community Rites in Vodún:

Community rites are integral to Vodún, serving not only as moments of spiritual worship but as key expressions of social unity and shared identity. These rites often involve drumming, dancing, and collective offerings to the spirits, which bind the community together in common purpose. As John S. Mbiti outlines in African Religions and Philosophy, these rituals often take place during significant events like harvests, births, or times of crisis, when the community seeks guidance, protection, or blessings from the spirits. Through these ceremonies, the relationship between the human and spiritual worlds is reinforced, with each person playing a role in maintaining the community’s connection to divine forces. The communal nature of these rites ensures that the group remains united, honoring their ancestors and reinforcing their shared values. These gatherings serve as a reminder that the welfare of the individual is tied to the collective, and by working together in ceremonial practices, the community seeks to sustain harmony with both the spiritual and natural realms.

Respect for the Divine in Vodún:

Respect for the divine is a fundamental aspect of Vodún, where spirits and ancestors are honored as key elements of everyday life. The spirits, or vodun, are believed to govern different aspects of nature, society, and personal well-being, and they require proper veneration to ensure balance and protection. As Laurenti Magesa discusses in African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life, offerings and rituals are performed with care to show respect for the spirits, as they are seen as intermediaries between the divine realm and the human world. These acts of devotion, such as presenting food, performing dances, and maintaining sacred spaces, are essential to maintaining a good relationship with the divine. The natural world, too, is viewed as an extension of the divine, and disrespect toward nature or the spirits can lead to misfortune. By observing these rituals and upholding respect for the divine, Vodún practitioners ensure that they remain in harmony with the forces that shape their lives, protecting both themselves and their community from spiritual imbalance.

The meaning of the term Vodún and origin of practices:

The practices of Vodún originated from the study of the natural world and the application of the principles of order seen in the world (including the effect of unseen forces) to society, families, people’s personal lives, and overcoming adversity. The term vodún comes from the Gbé languages of the Niger-Congo language family. It translates as "spirit", "god", "divinity", or "presence".

According to Blier, Vodun means, "the idea of staying close to a water source, to not rush through life, to take time to attain tranquility." Her interpretation stems from two area diviners who maintain that its origins lie in the phrase "rest to draw the water", from the Fon verbs vo 'to rest', and dun 'to draw water', the stoic suggestion of "the need for one to be calm and composed" in the face of adversity.

The system is able to incorporate new information and new ideas. So for instance, some Vodún practitioners refer to Jesus Christ as the vodún of the Christians, since Jesus Christ is the force that governs Christians and Christianity.

Beliefs of Vodún practitioners:

Vodún theology centers on the belief in a single supreme creator, Mawu, who oversees an extensive pantheon of spirits, or vodun. These spirits govern various aspects of nature, society, and personal well-being. They manifest in the natural world and are connected to natural forces such as thunder, earth, water, and metal. Some forces can be influenced like metal and some can’t. Devotees believe that each spirit has unique preferences and requires specific offerings, songs, dances, and prayers. The spirits are intermediaries between humanity and the divine, and their veneration helps maintain harmony between the human and spiritual worlds.

Vodún incorporates both individual and collective practices, with each spirit having its own cult and rituals. Shrines dedicated to particular spirits are physical embodiments of these deities and must be maintained and fed through offerings and rituals. These shrines are made from specific natural materials believed to possess inherent spiritual power, such as leaves, stones, and animal remains. Vodún adherents believe that spirits dwell in a parallel world, the land of the dead, and that spiritual practices must ensure harmony between these worlds.

A significant aspect of Vodún is the practice of divination, most notably through Fá, a system that reveals the will of the spirits. A similar system is known as Ifá among the Yoruba, which uses palm nuts or a divination tray to interpret the will of the spirits. The diviner, known as a bokónó, helps practitioners find solutions to personal problems and may recommend rituals, charms, or initiations. Another key element of Vodún is acɛ, a divine force that imbues objects and rituals with power. Vodún rituals and ceremonies, including initiation, serve to establish a relationship between the devotee and the spirits, ensuring blessings such as protection, health, and prosperity.

Animal sacrifice is an essential part of Vodún practices, as it is believed that the blood nourishes the spirits and revitalizes their power. The sacrifices maintain a reciprocal relationship between humans and spirits. Healing and protection are also significant elements, with various charms, called bǒ, created from natural materials to address specific issues. Vodún is deeply integrated into daily life, and the forest is considered sacred, symbolizing spiritual power and knowledge.

In Vodún cosmology, the dual aspects of Mawu and Lisa, representing the moon and the sun respectively, reflect the balance of masculine and feminine forces. This duality is key to understanding the Vodún worldview, where balance and tranquility are essential in dealing with life’s challenges. Vodún also venerates, but doesn’t worship, ancestors, who are believed to guide and protect their descendants. Spiritual possession plays a crucial role in rituals, where devotees are inhabited by spirits, offering guidance, healing, and counsel to the community.

Vodún practices emphasize maintaining a peaceful relationship with the spiritual world, promoting ethical behavior within the community. Respect for the divine is fundamental, as neglecting proper rituals and care for the spirits can result in misfortune. The forest and natural world are revered as sources of divine power, with plants and animals used in creating rituals and objects imbued with spiritual energy. The emphasis on balance, both cosmically and socially, is a cornerstone of Vodún belief, where maintaining harmony ensures prosperity, health, and spiritual fulfillment.

Spiritual Possession in Vodún Practices:

Spiritual possession is an important, but not universal, aspect of Vodún, where certain individuals may enter a trance during rituals, allowing a spirit to temporarily inhabit their body. This experience, while significant, is not common for all practitioners and typically occurs among those with a strong spiritual connection or specific roles in the community. Possession serves as a way for spirits to communicate, offering guidance, healing, or delivering messages. Those possessed often reflect the spirit’s personality, such as Legba’s playful nature or Sakpata’s healing power, reinforcing the connection between the human and spiritual worlds.

As Vodún spread beyond West Africa through the transatlantic slave trade, it encountered new cultural and religious influences. In the Americas, particularly in Haiti, Vodún underwent significant transformations, merging with elements of Catholicism and local practices. This adaptation highlights Vodún’s flexibility and resilience, allowing it to survive and thrive in diverse environments. While the core beliefs of honoring spirits and maintaining harmony persisted, the diasporic versions of Vodún developed unique characteristics shaped by the experiences and challenges of the African diaspora.

Vodún in Diaspora:

Vodún in the diaspora, particularly in Haiti, has evolved differently from its West African roots due to the influences of colonialism, slavery, and interaction with other belief systems. Haitian Vodou incorporates elements of Catholicism, such as the syncretism of Catholic saints with Vodou spirits, and places a much greater emphasis on spiritual possession during rituals. Additionally, the pantheon of spirits, known as lwa, has expanded and taken on new forms and functions, adapting to the experiences of the African diaspora. Practices like the use of veves (symbolic drawings) and the prominence of public ceremonies also differ from traditional West African Vodún.

In conclusion, Vodún is a deeply spiritual and complex belief system that has been misrepresented by outsiders, especially in media portrayals. Rooted in the traditions of the Aja, Ewe, and Fon peoples, Vodún emphasizes ethical living, communal rites, and respect for the divine forces that govern nature and society. Through its rituals, which range from offerings and divination to occasional spiritual possession, Vodún practitioners seek balance and harmony with the world around them. As a dynamic religion, Vodún has adapted in various contexts, including the African diaspora, while remaining centered on its core values of reciprocity, ethical living, spiritual connection, and cosmic harmony.