benin voodoo gods

People become priests through either vocation or training – some are even called by the gods at birth. He speaks all human languages and is always the first god or loa to be invoked in Voodoo ceremonies. Savalou likes to claim that it is the beating heart of Voodoo in Benin and, as such, should almost be considered a compulsory stop on the road north. Instead Beninese magic is of religious significance and is also used for healing, although as the gods are requested to help in such operations it’s very much intertwined with religious beliefs. Legba is the most powerful of all voodoo divinities. We even saw elephant skin, lion skulls and what might have been a small chimpanzee head. Even then you should go very carefully and seek the permission of everyone around you before attempting to take a picture. The rituals and ceremonies of the voodoo religion in Benin | … Benin: Voodoo festival in Ouidah - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Wild flower in Pendjari National Park - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Benin: Adja people - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Ouidah fort -Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Ouidah: Voodoo festival - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Benin: Ouidah - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Testi e immagini © Exploring Africa - 2021, Africa's Most Successful Conservation Projects, The rituals and ceremonies of the voodoo religion in Benin. The word Voodoo, variously known as Vodou, Vodun, and Vodoun, originated among the Fon people of Benin. Though you may well meet one, it’s really best to try to avoid them, because witchcraft is considered one of the biggest forms of misfortune in Benin and witches are feared, loathed and respected. Another god that is very important to poeple in Benin is the god called Xevioso, and this godis the godof thunder, rain, and fertility. The spinning movement of the mask symbolizes the spiritual cleaning of the village and Zangbeto … Another place that Voodoo is widely practised is in New Orleans in the state of Louisiana in the USA. Vodun art is associated with the West African Vodun religion of Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana.The term is sometimes used more generally for art associated with related religions of West and Central Africa and of the African diaspora in Brazil, the Caribbean and the United States. Usually voodoo shrines are placed near roko trees, these very hardwood trees, are endemic to tropical West Africa and can live up to 500 years; people believe they are endowed with supernatural powers and consider them sacred. Whatever you do when you first see an Egungun, you must not rush over and start taking pictures – this is certain to land you in very deep trouble. Originally created to scare the enemy away, Zangbeto will wander around the streets to detect thieves and witches, and to provide law and order. Vodou is a monotheistic religion. The giving up of something valuable or precious is the surest way of catching a god’s ear. He is the guardian of the door of the spirits so it is only through Legba that it’s possible to contact other gods. So what exactly is a witch? on Pinterest. However, don’t get too excited about the thought of zombies roaming the streets and sorcerers stirring cauldrons. In the past centuries, voodoo was born in the region between Abomey and Ouidah in Benin; these rituals are still practiced today and nearly 80% of the nation's population professes this religion and Benin's feticheurs are very powerful and very respected. To the uninitiated this roadside shrine may just resemble a rotting, stinking pile of organic rubbish and blood, but don’t be fooled, for the Dankoli fetish is rumoured to be the strongest and most powerful fetish in the country. Bondye is the creator god found in the Voodoo religion, and the loa answer to him. Not surprisingly, the whole experience of meeting an Egungun is a slightly spooky and stressful event for most foreigners and Beninese alike. Voodoo, which in Fon language means "spirit" is the spiritual force that lies within all the expressions of nature. Coming back from the realm of the dead as a ghost is one thing and (apparently) not that hard, but coming back in a physical form in which you can touch and talk to living humans is another thing altogether and only really likely if the spirit takes on the form of an Egungun. Prolonged parties and January spiritual ceremonies in the country of Benin, West Africa, are common. You simply speak directly with the spirits who will pass on your messages and requests. indigenous Taino peoples of Haiti. Almost as common as the Egunguns, and increasingly easy to see due to their habit of putting on public ‘performances’ during celebrations (or even paid-for tourist events), the Zangbetos, or Night Watchmen, act as an unofficial police force patrolling the streets and tracking down perpetrators of crimes whom they publicly denounce to the community. We hope the following information will help in those tricky cases when you are trying to work out if it’s an Egungun or a Zangbeto bearing menacingly down on you. This animistic religion has over 50 million followers in West Africa. Voodoo History Basic Principles Background. There are about 100 other voodoo divinities who all represent different phenomena. A hierarchy of gods exists. The term “Voodoo” comes from the term Vodou which translates to “God” or “spirit”, which came from Benin, Africa. The official 10 January events are well organised and generally stick closely to the schedule, clustering mainly on the beach around the Gate of No Return. Visit Africa with us! You name it – it’s here. Sacrifices are all that most of us know of Voodoo and, yes, they are an everyday occurrence in Benin. However, from personal experience I have seen Zangbetos a number of times and during their peak of dancing about like a spinning top they have either fallen over or, more commonly, been tipped over by their assistants to reveal a totally hollow interior with nobody inside them (and no way of anyone hiding within them) and, on the ground, just a small, moving wooden statue. Lots of tour groups are in town for the event and at the merest hint of something magical taking place, crowds of tourists and interested locals rush over to see what’s happening. This can be a very difficult time for them as they live in isolation from their family and must speak only in the special language used by Voodoo initiates. It certainly makes for an arresting sight; however, there is a lot more to it than that. Experienced priests and village elders can slip in and out of trance barely noticed, and it’s often only their glazed or rolled-back eyes that give the game away. In Haiti, for example, he is called Bondye, which comes from the French bon dieu, meaning "good god." If the request was particularly important, such as healing from a disease, the offer would have to be bigger and a goat or an ox would be sacrificed; the meat of these animals is then consumed and distributed to people who are protecting the fetish. You will be pleased to know that witches are very common in Benin and you have a fairly good chance of meeting one. He gave birth to Mawu-Lisa who completed creation and gave birth to other gods. The early origins of Voodoo, also spelled Vodou, Voudou, and Voudon, likely came from the West African country of Dahomey, now called Benin. Learn more about the fascinating world of Voodoo in our comprehensive guide: © 2021 Bradt Guides. Monkey heads, dried pangolins, leopard skins and an aviary of shrivelled birds. They also dispense justice, which for very serious crimes could in the past have involved the death sentence. Benin is the place where the Voodoo, or vodu, was born and today is the official religion of the country; voodoo means "soul" or "strength" in Fon, and at the time of the Kingdom of Dahomey it has had its maximum development and has remained unaltered over the centuries, thanks also to the dignitaries of the cult who have been able to perpetrate the rituals and ceremonies, although in the period of the European colonization this religion has been demonized. Most people assume that there is simply a person in a trance within one and quite possibly that is often the case. Witchcraft is a state of possession, sometimes voluntary, by non-human forces that can cause much harm. Colorful party for the God. Mesmerising St Helena: The five best postbox walks on the island. A Loa is a Voodoo spirit that aids the practitioner in life, including with success, sexuality, spirituality, protection, healing and even in death. Followers of Vodou -- known as Vodouisants -- believe in a single, supreme godhead that can be equated with the Catholic God. According to the Voodoo tradition, there is one supreme god, who is known by different names in different parts of the world. Your chance of an encounter is quite high. If the problem is very difficult to solve, the feticheur often requires the sacrifice of an ox, a sheep, a goat or a chicken whose blood needs to be poured on the fetish to give him the necessary powers and strength to solve the problem. Jul 17, 2019 - Explore Howardcoles's board "Very good almighty Allah destroy voodoo Gods for eternity." Fon Pantheon or Vodun is the gods and goddesses of the Fon or Dahomey people. At a voodoo ceremony, believers gather outdoors to make contact with the Loa, any of a pantheon of spirits who have various functions running the universe, much like Greek gods. The one place that you can be certain of experiencing the blood and gore of Hollywood-style Voodoo is at the immensely strong Dankoli fetish, a few kilometres out of town. Mawu-Lisa has a male and female personification--Mawu the female and Lisa the male. Owing to the secrecy surrounding the Zangbeto societies it’s hard to know exactly what is inside a Zangbeto. The amount of African wildlife parts on sale here is quite incredible. See more ideas about Almighty allah, Vodou, Voodoo. Alongside zombies and sacrifices the thing most of us immediately associate with Voodoo is people in a trance, eyes rolled back into their heads, speaking incomprehensible languages with their bodies possessed by spirits or gods. The Dankoli fetish is said to be so powerful that the voodoo followers who come here can communicate directly with the gods without the help of the vodounon, initiated of the voodoo religion; here the adepts can carry out the rituals themselves and make their requests and prayers to the divinities. The one time of the year when more than a handful of tourists are in Benin is during the Fête du Vaudou, which takes place on 10 January. It is through Legba that loa move back and forth from the realm of the gods in Guinee to the mortal world to possess worshippers. The biggest religion of Benin, Voodoo has over 50 million believers in West Africa and further huge followings in parts of the Caribbean, South America and even some regions of the southern United States. • Ajayi, J.F. But where are the best places to witness Voodoo culture in Benin? For most people this is the most fascinating side of Voodoo or any other traditional African culture. Voodoo and fetishes are part of everyday life for Benin residents, most of whom have fetishes that guard and protect access to villages, markets and homes.

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