VOODOU

Also known as VOODOO

This is the religion popularly referred to as Voodoo.

It came originally via the African slave trade — folk plucked from their native lands took their Gods and beliefs with them. Their traditional beliefs were mixed and stirred with the prevailing Roman Catholic ritual.

Voodou became a powerful influence, especially in Haiti. It also spread to other islands — and other deities have drifted in from the nearest parts of South America. This mix-and-match process is known as Syncretism. Sorry about that.

'Voo' means Introspection, 'Dou' means the Unknown. It has little to do with Hollywood zombies and pin-ridden dolls lurching all over the place. Voodou does have its unsavory aspects, but the populist Hollywood version is a highly sensationalized fiction based on stereotype and brute ignorance. Also, there's plenty of opportunity for drumming and rumming the night away.