Diaspora religion
A faith carried by migrants or enslaved people to new lands, where it changes in contact with other traditions.
Also: African diaspora religions, Afro-diasporic religion, transplanted religion
Diaspora religions are those that moved with their people. The Afro-diasporic family, Vodou, Santería, Candomblé, Umbanda, Obeah and others, grew from West and Central African religions carried through the Atlantic slave trade to the Caribbean and the Americas. Hindu, Chinese, Jewish and Sikh communities abroad have also adapted ritual to new settings. Scholars study how language, priesthood, food and festival change, and how a homeland practice is kept or reimagined. Many diaspora religions have faced bans, stereotypes and police action, and some have fought for legal recognition. Practitioners often stress continuity with their ancestors and reject the label of mixed or lesser.