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Voodoo (also spelled Vodou) is an ancient West African religion practiced by more than 30 million people in Benin, Togo and Ghana. Voodoo varieties are also present in the United States, and the Caribbean. The word ‘vodou’ comes from the languages of West Africa, and means ‘spirit’. That is appropriate as Voodoo is a religion of spirits. Practitioners of Voodoo (who are called Voodooists) believe that the world of humans is shared by the world of the spirits. When a person dies, his spirit passed to the world of the unseen but is still able to see the human world, the visible world. Spirits, it is believed, in some cases can even impact the world of the living.
Belief in Voodoo crossed the Pacific …show more content…
Haitian voodoo originated in West Africa, which brought voodoo to the New World. What separates it from the voodoo of Africa is that it combines native elements, such as the beliefs of the Arawak Indians, who populated Haiti and other surrounding islands. The divine creator in Haitian voodoo is commonly known as Bondye.
9) What is New Orleans Voodoo?
New Orleans voodoo originated with the voodoo practices of West Africa, but blended Catholic elements into the spirituality of the religion, such as in the belief in protective spirits. One of the main differences is that New Orleans voodoo incorporates "voodoo queens." This type of voodoo also is known for its historic practitioners, such as Marie Laveau, known as the "Queen of New Orleans."
10) What is African Voodoo?
In the origin of African voodoo, it mixed animistic beliefs with elements of Christianity. Traditionally, it incorporated animal sacrifice and beliefs such as spirit possession, among other facets. While African voodoo also has a Creator God in its cosmology, it also is known for having an extensive temple of gods and