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Vodou and the loas
Vodou is a monotheistic religion that is believed to have
its roots in Dahomey (Togo, Benin and Nigeria) in Africa
going back some 6 to 10,000 years. The religion is
commonly practiced in many countries of Africa and the
Americas. It is called Candomble in Brazil, Obeah in
Jamaica and Trinidad-Tobago, Santeria or Lukumi in
Cuba and Vodou in Haiti.
Vodou is more a culture than it is a religion. Its
practitioners believe in one god, but they communicate
with the divine through a number of spirits, or "Loa,"
which have power over nature and human existence.
When Africans from different nations were brought to the
New World to be placed in slavery, their European
masters forced them into Catholicism and forbade the
practice of their native religion. The slaves fooled their
masters by using the depiction of Catholic saints to
represent the Loas of Vodou.
The pantheon of Loas can be grouped into three main
categories: The Radas, The Guedes and The Petros.
The name of the same Loa may be different in each of
the groups.
its roots in Dahomey (Togo, Benin and Nigeria) in Africa
going back some 6 to 10,000 years. The religion is
commonly practiced in many countries of Africa and the
Americas. It is called Candomble in Brazil, Obeah in
Jamaica and Trinidad-Tobago, Santeria or Lukumi in
Cuba and Vodou in Haiti.
Vodou is more a culture than it is a religion. Its
practitioners believe in one god, but they communicate
with the divine through a number of spirits, or "Loa,"
which have power over nature and human existence.
When Africans from different nations were brought to the
New World to be placed in slavery, their European
masters forced them into Catholicism and forbade the
practice of their native religion. The slaves fooled their
masters by using the depiction of Catholic saints to
represent the Loas of Vodou.
The pantheon of Loas can be grouped into three main
categories: The Radas, The Guedes and The Petros.
The name of the same Loa may be different in each of
the groups.
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| Vodou Ceremony, Private collection of Roody Gaston -1998 |
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The Loas