Vodun

Vodun also known as Voodoo by the general public, is a monotheistic region whose roots can be traced back to Africa. It was an actual religion that was practiced in Benin, Nigeria, and Togo. Slaves brought this religion with them, when they were forcibly shipped to the West Indies. The word Vodun means ‘Spirit’, and the followers of Vodun believed that every person has a soul, that has two parts. One was the ‘Gros bon ange’, or Big guardian angel, and the other was the ‘ti bon ange’, or the small guardian angel. There is also an single divine creator called Mawu.
The purpose of the Vodun rituals is to gain the favor of the spirit, by offering animal sacrifices, like a goat, sheep or chicken, and is performed by the Houngan or Vodun priest. The ritual begins with a feast before the main ceremony, and then chanting and beating of drums. Then the followers of Vodun, also called as Hounsis, begin to dance, and it builds in intensity until one of the Hounsis becomes possessed by a spirit, and falls. The possessed dancer is treated with respect by the others present at the ceremony. Then the animal that is to be sacrificed is killed by slitting it’s throat, and it’s blood is collected in a vessel. The possessed hounsis might drink some of the blood, and then the animal is cooked, and consumed by the followers of Vodun.
Although the Houngan mainly use Vodun for ‘white magic, there are others called the Caplatas, who use it for black magic. Sticking pins into dolls, was used to curse a person by followers of Vodun, and it is this image that has stuck in the mind of the public because of horror movies made by Hollywood depicting Vodun as evil. The lurid descriptions of Vodun as an evil religion, and the followers of Vodun as people who practice human sacrifice, and cannibalism, was created by the catholic church, to stop people from practicing Vodun. Hollywood screenplay writers found Vodun, a rich source for horror movies, and this misrepresentation has continued till today.