Vodou

Overview

Vodou is the indigenous spiritual tradition of Haiti. A Fon-Ewe derived religion from the Kingdom of Dahomey. Historically tied to Orisha traditions through the shared Middle Passage.

Key Texts

Oral tradition with authority held by Oungan (priest) and Manbo (priestess), and secret societies (Sosyete).

Relationship

Influenced Lucumí in terms of syncretic masking, but theological roots (Fon vs Yoruba) remain distinct.

Core Practices

• Service of the Lwa: Practitioners "serve" the spirits.
• The Nations (Nanchons): Rada (cool/ancient) and Petwo (hot/assertive).
• Vèvè: Geometric drawings on the floor to summon spirits.
• Drums and Song: Using three sacred drums (Manman, Segon, Bula).

Cultural Safety

Reference-only. Focuses on public history. Does not provide vèvè construction or initiatic mechanics.

Historical Origins

Born in colonial Saint-Domingue. Enslaved Africans combined spiritual knowledge for resistance. The Bwa Kayiman ceremony (1791) launched the Haitian Revolution, making Vodou inseparable from national identity.