Haitian Vodou is a syncretic religion, which means that it is a combination of multiple varieties of Vodou. Haitian Vodou originates in the Caribbean country of Haiti, and is a result of the combination of beliefs and practices from the West African religion, Arawakian beliefs, and Roman Catholic Christianity. Vodou was created by African slaves who were brought to the Americas from West Africa and is based on their traditional African beliefs.

 

The basic belief of Haitian Vodou is that spirits or deities called Lwa, which are subordinate to a higher god called Bondye, can and do interact with the human world and can affect change beyond the spirit world in which they ‘live’. Bondye, the supreme being of the Vodou religion, does not interfere with human affairs, so most of communication and prayers of Haitian Vodou is directed towards the Lwa.

 

The Haitian form of Vodou is practiced not only in Haiti but also parts of the Dominican Republic, eastern Cuba, some minor islands of the Bahamas, the United States, and wherever there is a migrant Haitian population.