By Joelle Bayaa-Uzuri
Turn to any Hollywood film or television portrayal of Voodoo and you’re most often faced with the same, sensationalized representation—an evil, devil-worshipping religion practiced amongst impoverished Black communities in Louisiana. While the religion may be romanticized in some cases, it is still largely seen as violent, graphic, and wicked. These misconceptions directly stem from the very real racism and misogynoir that exists in Hollywood and society at large.
Before we dive into what Voodoo is (and its long history), let’s first define what it isn’t. Voodoo is not violent, a cult, or rooted in black magic or devil worshipping. Contrary to popular belief, most Voodooists, or people who practice Voodoo, do not carry around voodoo dolls, nor are they evil witch doctors. What Voodoo is, however, is an assortment of cultural elements. Voodoo is a set of personal creeds and practices, including an elaborate system of folk medical practices. Voodoo is a system of ethics transmitted across generations including proverbs, stories, songs, and folklore. In essence, Voodoo is a way of life.
Voodoo originated in the tribes of West Africa during the times of the Atlantic slave trade, born through a process of religious syncretism (the blending of two or more belief systems into a new system). African religions were frowned upon by the imperialist missionaries, and in 1685, a law was passed that forbade the practice of African religions by slaves.
Some native West African rituals and traditions persevered, however, and made the journey with slaves across the Atlantic to various parts of the Americas (Brazil, Haiti, New Orleans, Louisiana). There, Voodoo (also referred to as Vodou) developed and progressed differently depending on the region—practices evolved into Santeria in Cuba and Candomblé in Brazil, to name a few. Voodoo, in its modern form in the United States, is predominantly the result of the influx of slaves brought into the region through the West Indian slave trade, particularly those taken to Haiti.
Again, the doctrine of Christianity regarded slaves as less-than and sought to quash any traditions carried over during the Trans-Atlantic “Middle Passage” (captured slaves’ journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas). This included eliminating all African religious practices. Any and all slave congregations and gatherings were strictly forbidden, and would result in severe punishment. The slaves in Haiti, however, were more resilient in their opposition to white plantation owners. This resulted in the very bloody Haitian slave revolution, which, after more than a decade, helped to expel the French colonial rule of the island. Many slave owners, along with their Haitian slaves, escaped to the United States, where they settled in or around New Orleans, Louisiana. With them, the Haitian slaves brought their mix of rites and traditions from their home tribes, now combined with the imposed Catholic religious practices, as well as newly acquired Native American traditions. This blend became what is known today as Haitian Voodoo. In New Orleans (and the broader United States), plantation and slave owners had less fear of slaves rebelling (as slavery was commonplace at the time), and therefore African religious practices were much less policed. Thus, Voodoo thrived in the Crescent City.
Since arriving in the United States, Voodoo has been a polarizing religion, especially within the African American community. On one hand, Voodoo continues to have a strong presence in Black communities in New Orleans and Louisiana, and is woven into the cultural fabric of the land. Within the larger African American community, however, the religion is largely seen as taboo.
So why is one of the only remaining religions rooted in African heritage in the United States shunned by the African American community? Much of this opposition can be traced back to the past generations of African and African American people who were forcibly converted to Christianity, stripped of their African customs, and required to adopt those of their white slave owners and Catholic and Christian evangelists. The Haitian slave revolution then caused even deeper fears and anxieties that Voodoo practices would lead to similar uprisings in the United States. Anything related to Voodoo (or any other Afro-Caribbean religion) was thus quickly and brutally repressed by slave owners. Slaves were conditioned into adopting Christian and Catholic practices, and there were harsh and severe consequences for anyone who refused to convert.
This conversion to Western religion fueled and continues to propel the (often religiously based) homophobia that is rampant within the Black community. While Catholicism and Christianity traditionally oppose homosexuality, Voodoo accepts and welcomes queerness. In fact, queerness is an integral part of Voodoo, as many of the religion’s most-revered spirits are gender non-conforming, gender fluid, or dual-gendered.
One such spirit (or loas) is Li Grand Zombi, the major serpent spirit of worship among New Orleans Voodooists. In Voodoo, snakes are not considered to be evil (as they are in Christianity); rather, snakes are seen as the holders of intuitive knowledge. Women Voodooists often dance with snakes to represent the spiritual balance between genders. The origin of Li Grand Zombi can be traced back to Whydah, Africa, where the deity was known as Nzambi. Nzambi, the Creator God, is responsible for creating Exu-Alluvaia, a being that is simultaneously man and woman and is regarded as the manifestation of the nature of Nzambi. Additionally, the androgynous spirit Mawu-Lisa is revered as the West African Mother Earth creator, and associated with both the sun and moon. The dual-spirited deity is the child of Nanu Buluku, the Great Mother, or ancient mother of the universe.
While Voodoo is slowly gaining more visibility in the media, this increased representation will not translate into positive change unless the misconceptions about Voodoo and the deep-rooted racism behind those falsehoods are critiqued. As more people turn away from organized religion in favor of a more “spiritual” existence, Voodoo is regaining popularity. However, it is important that Voodoo does not become co-opted as a fad, but rather is respected for its long history and inclusion of Black queerness. It is time that we step away from the Western-centric gaze of Voodoo and into the reality of its true power.
