G.) Vodou and vodouism

        Currently, the most important and widespread natural religion and cult in Central and South America is unquestionably vodou and vodouism.

       Originally it was the name of the forest spirit in Togo and Dahomey (currently Benin).

       It was not an ordinary spirit of the forest but the Great Spirit, a magical, protective, all-embracing spirit, the genius being, omnipresent, most likely the spirit of the jungle and the leader of all that is alive.

       He who was on good terms with him, who subjugated himself to him and appreciated him, stayed alive, otherwise he died.

       Probably much later, it became smaller, a less important supportive spirit of the people dwelling in the jungles, and it became an integral part of all religion of the descendants of black slaves in Central America and parts of South America.

        The secret cult of vodou had different titles in history, mostly locally modified or erroneously interpreted.

       E.g., the French called it in error a vadoux, and believed that it was the dance around the golden calf (veau d'or), others supported their interpretation with the word vadois, which is a forest man. In some Caribbean islands it was also-called a santeria or haniguismo, or differently, however, the most widely used is the name vodou [voodoo.]
 
        In 1685, when the French published, the so-called Black Code (Code Noir) that prohibited the vodou cult, this cult immediately became the secret religion of all black inhabitants of the Caribbean islands.

       Haiti may thank this cult for its gain of independence after a great uprising of slaves on the night of August 14, 1791. Also, since that time the cult and vodou religions are connected with the independence movement of black and colored inhabitants of Central America.

       It is even considered a religion that sets free.

        Besides the Spirit of the Jungle, there was another spirit or divine being of the ocean in the natural religion of vodou or vodouism, the Agwe, that was simultaneously the protector of fishermen (up to this day, its symbol is a big shell).

       Further, there was a divine being or spirit of farmers and lightning, Zaka or Azeka-Tonnereo, his wife Ayida-Weddo (i.e., the heavenly serpent) which was responsible for rain and moisture on the Earth, and finally there was a goddess of love and wealth, Ezulia or Ezili. Finally, this divine family was accompanied by thirty powerful spirits of death (baron of twilight, cross, cemetery, etc.) who usually danced the sexual dance of Banda.

       The entire celebration always was and still is managed by Father Legba, the representative of gods of vodou on Earth. This usually ends with the trance of all participants and with the ritual of animal sacrifice.
 
        Of today's five million Haitians, more than 85% are Catholics, but 100% of the population  supports of vodouism. Even Haitian president Dr. Francois Duvalier was one of them from 1957 to 1986 and he was the head of the state and vodouism for a full thirty years.

       Thus, the New Age religion of the inhabitants was originally of African origin and currently has expanded to almost the whole territory of Central America and parts of South America.
 

 Previous  Table of Contents  Next