What is voodoo in Benin?

In Benin, worshippers of Voodoo, a religion that worships gods and natural spirits, have gathered to pay their respects to the deities. The meeting takes place on the beach in Ouidah, a former slave trading hub, by the Atlantic Ocean. Mami Wata

Mami Wata

Mami Wata (Mammy Water), or La Sirene, is a water spirit venerated in West, Central, and Southern Africa and in the African diaspora in the Americas. Mami Wata spirits are usually female but are sometimes male.

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Mami Wata - Wikipedia

is the most revered deity.

Is there voodoo in Benin?

Voodoo is completely normal in Benin. People across West Africa, especially Togo, Ghana and Nigeria hold similar beliefs but in Benin it is recognised as an official religion, followed by some 40% of the population. Voodoo Day is a public holiday and there is a national Voodoo museum.

What is voodoo Day in Benin?

In 1996, the government of Benin declared January 10, National Voodoo Day. Voodoo is practiced by 60% of the population and on this day, followers of the various voodoo cults gather at the 'Door of No Return' in Ouidah, the capital of the Voodoo religion.

What does voodoo mean?

Definition of voodoo

(Entry 1 of 3) 1 or less commonly vodou \ vō-​ˈdü \ : a religion that is derived from African polytheism and ancestor worship and is practiced chiefly in Haiti. 2a : a person who deals in spells and necromancy. b(1) : a sorcerer's spell : hex.

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.

BENIN: VOODOO ceremonies

What kind of religion is voodoo?

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

Who is the voodoo God?

Legba represents a West African and Caribbean Voodoo god. This god has many different names depending on the region in which he is worshipped is most commonly known in Haiti as Papa Legba.

How did voodoo start?

Vodou developed among Afro-Haitian communities amid the Atlantic slave trade of the 16th to 19th centuries. Its structure arose from the blending of the traditional religions of those enslaved West and Central Africans, among them Yoruba, Fon, and Kongo, who had been brought to the island of Hispaniola.

What is another word for voodoo?

In this page you can discover 19 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for voodoo, like: bewitch, spellbind, charm, enthrall, entrance, spell, magic, vamp, enchant, witch and persuasion.

Where did voodoo come from?

Contrary to popular opinion, Voodoo (or voudou) is not a form of witchcraft or demonic worship. It is a folk religion originating from Haiti that came into being when Africans were captured and forced into slavery, causing their cultures and religious beliefs to collide with Catholicism.

What does Benin celebrate?

Every year, on January 10th, Benin celebrates the ancestral cults that are the foundation of the various forms of traditional religion practiced in the country. On this day, all the voodoo adepts from the south of the country meet in Ouidah.

What is African voodoo festival?

The Voodoo Festival or the Fête du Vaudou on 10 January is a celebration of traditional religions in the West African country of Benin, the cradle of the voodoo cult. Due to the continuong Covid pandemic, it is best to check whether the Voodoo Festival is still going ahead, and if so what restrictions are in place.

What do people in Benin celebrate?

Voodoo Day happens on January 10 every year and is viewed by the people of Benin in the same vein of importance as the Christian Christmas or the Muslim Eid. This public holiday attracts believers from all over West Africa and the world to celebrate the unique and often misunderstood Voodoo religion.

What is Benin religion?

Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Benin, with 48.5% of the nation's total population being members of various Christian denominations. Consequently, it plays an important role in shaping the country's social and cultural life.

What is the voodoo capital of the world?

Voodoo was born in the region between Ouidah and Abomey, Benin a few centuries ago. Today, the small town of Ouidah is the Voodoo capital of the world. Nearly 80% of Benin's population practices Voodoo, and the country's 'feticheurs' are very powerful.

Where can I get voodoo in Nigeria?

The Ogu inhabit coastal areas of Nigeria, Benin and Togo. The West African region once was known as the Slave Coast because of the large number of slaves taken from there over centuries. Beyond the slave trade, Ogu land is also noted for the voodoo widely practiced there.

What are names for voodoo dolls?

What is magic words in English?

Magic words are often nonsense phrases used in fantasy fiction or by stage magicians. Frequently such words are presented as being part of a divine, adamic, or other secret or empowered language.

Who is the Voodoo queen?

Marie Laveau quickly came to dominance as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, taking charge of the public Voodoo rituals and ceremonies held at Congo Square, one of the few locations in rigidly segregated New Orleans where people of different races could mix freely.

What are the elements of Voodoo?

There are four phases to a Voodoo ritual, all identifiable by the song being sung: preparation, invocation, possession, and farewell.