DR. KOFI MAALIK, Ph.D.

A large part of Vodou is based on the African religions from the areas of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. These are the areas in which the Yoruba people lived.

The Yoruba people have been in Africa for approximately 2,500 years. Their religion centers around a Gran Met, or Grand Master, Olorun as well as about 400 lesser spirits. These lesser spirits were humans who lived exceptional lives.

The aspects of the Yoruba religion include prayer, animal sacrifice, and a belief that life and death are intertwined.

In the 16th to 18th centuries, French and Spanish slave traders arrived in Western Africa. They raided the land and forced the native peoples into slavery. Many of these slaves were brought to Haiti and forced to work the land. They were treated very harshly so that they would fear their "master" and not attempt to escape for fear of even worse treatment. Many slaves committed suicide to end the pain. Others aborted their pregnancies so as to not bring a child into such a rough life.

In these difficult times, the slaves needed something more to get them through the long days of harvesting cotton, coffee, tobacco, and sugarcane. They coped by remembering their old lives in Africa. They clung to their religions to give them hope.

The slaves had to hide their native religions, as the French and Spanish forced Catholicism on them. Baptisms were mandatory, and worship of their old religion was prohibited. In order to avoid scrutiny from their captors, the slaves "merged" their religious beliefs with those of Catholicism. They gave the appearance of Catholic worship, when in fact, they were worshipping their own spirits. Eventually, the slaves began to like some of the ideas of Christianity, and believed it to be the same as their own religions, with God and the "lesser spirits" merely being called by different names.

Many myths and misconceptions have arisen surrounding Voodoo. This is due to a misunderstanding as well as purposeful conjurings of Hollywood and writers, before Hollywood was around.

Voodoo Dolls

Voodoo dolls are universally associated with Voodoo. Most know the concept of the voodoo doll-- a doll is made as a likeness of the intended victim and is then stuck with pics and needles to inflict pain upon the victim. It is surprising then to learn that Voodoo dolls are unheard of in the original Voodoo in Haiti, although some are used in New Orleans voodoo, mostly to amuse tourists.

The real origin of the "Voodoo doll" is the "poppet," used in European witchcraft. Apparently, the term Voodoo doll was invented by an American writer who made up a story about Voodoo after hearing that it was witchcraft. The only "dolls" used in Voodoo are ones used on Voodoo altars, which are supposed to represent loas.

Human Sacrifice

While slightly less known than the "Voodoo Doll" myth, in the late 1800s, many believed that Voodoo incorporated human sacrifice in its practices, most often believed to have been sacrifice of children. This myth was perpetuated by the writings of Sir Spenser St. John, who was a consul to Haiti. These writings had no evidence to back them up, but were nonetheless sensationalized and picked up by newspapers around the world.

In fact, the idea of human sacrifice goes completely against the moral code in place in Voodoo, which includes not harming others. This myth is one of pure fiction and was passed on only because of invention and the somewhat secret aspect of Voodooism which arose from people having to sneak around in order to practice it.

Source: Myths About Voodoo Web Site