Voodoo :: essays research papers fc

VoodooFon is spoken by everywhere half the people of Benin and it is the mother tongueof voodoo. In Fon the root intelligence in editionation for voodoo is vodoun that means spirit or god.Voodoo had its origins oer 350 years ago in West Africa. In f carry Allada, asm in all town in Benin, is frequently called the cradle of voodoo. In 1996, January10th became depicted object Voodoo Day in honor of its followers that make up 65% ofBenin population.The piety Vodoun was a by-product of the slave trade. This Yorubanreligion was carried to Haiti in a slave trade from Dahomey, which is currentlycalled Benin. Once in Haiti, the slaves were forced to adopt Catholicism.Desiring to keep their native practices, the slaves continued to perform theirrituals in private. They transposed Catholic saints onto the tribal deities,called loa, to please their owners. Instead of hindering the organized religion of theslaves, the incorporation of the saints added something new to their religion.Becaus e of this they included into their rituals statues of the saints, candles,and other Christian relics. It is combinations like this that form religionssuch as Santeria, a blend of Voodoo and Spanish Catholicism, that proves what amalleable religion it is. Voodoo has spread throughout the world into majorcommunities on Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans, Miami, and New York city. Vodounhas as many as 50 million followers throughout the world now.     Although varieties of this religion come to pass in different regions there aresome basic tenets special K among them. They all swear that the pulse of liferesides in natures elements like flame or wind. This force is also in union withthe dead and therefrom fosters a belief that they should be respected through rituals.They believe that all things are the creation of the loa, and at the same timepart of the Lao and are to be servants to them. The loa take part in our worldand act as intermediaries between human being a nd the higher god, Bodye. Thepractitioners of Vodoun believe that when a soul dies it become a sprit or loa.These spirits often posses the living during rituals. When possessed thebeliever dances, offers animal sacrifices, falls into a trance, or may evendisappear. When these rituals are performed a group (societe) come together ina sanctuary (hounfort) where they are revolved around a priest (hougan) orpriestess (mamba). These societes are crucial in the structure within nigglingHaitian villages. They are positive forces in establishing communal cohesionand over-riding sexual urge barriers.     For whatever good is served, Voodoo can also bring evil.