What is voodoo called in Africa?

Vodun is an ancient religion practiced by some 30 million people in the West African nations of Benin, Togo and Ghana. With its countless deities, animal sacrifice and spirit possession, voodoo — as it’s known to the rest of the world — is one of the most misunderstood religions on the globe.

What type of religion is Vodun?

Vodou, also spelled Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou, a traditional Afro-Haitian religion.

Is Benin the birthplace of voodoo?

As Pope Benedict XVI visits Benin, widely seen as the home of Voodoo, Virgile Ahissou from BBC Afrique explains the reality behind what is often a misunderstood religion.

Is Baron Samedi a god?

“Samedi” means “Saturday” in French. His wife is the Loa Maman Brigitte. Although technically a deity rather than a “villain”, he is often seen in negative and amoral light in media due to a great fear and/or misunderstanding of “Voodoo” by those outside the religion.

Who created Vodou?

Vodou originated in the ancient kingdom of Dahomey (present-day Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) and derives from the Fon word for “God” or “Spirit.” Other accurate spellings include Vodun, Vodoun, but never voodoo, the sensationalist and derogatory Western creation.

What is a Voodoo priest called?

oungan, also spelled houngan, in Vodou, a male priest who serves as a leader of rituals and ceremonies. A woman of the same position is referred to as a manbo. It is believed that oungans obtain their positions through dreamlike encounters with a lwa (spirit).

Does Benin still exist?

Benin (/bɛˈniːn/ ( listen) ben-EEN, /bɪˈniːn/ bin-EEN; French: Bénin [benɛ̃]), officially the Republic of Benin (French: République du Bénin) and formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east.

What language is voodoo spoken in?

While certain Vodou prayers, songs, and invocations preserve fragments of West African languages, Haitian Creole is the primary language of Vodou. Creole is the first and only language of more than one half the population of Haiti.