Vodou
The religion of Haiti, built on West African and Catholic elements, centred on service to the lwa. Not the doll-and-curse cliche of film.
Also: vodoun, vodun, voodoo, sèvis
Vodou is a religion of Haiti, with communities in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, the United States and Canada. The name comes from Fon vodun, spirit. Followers believe in one creator, Bondye, who is distant, and serve the lwa, spirits who act for the living, in ceremonies of drumming, song, dance, offerings and possession. A houngan or mambo leads a temple, an ounfò, and initiation is long and private. Most Vodou is practised within families as sèvis, service. The English spelling voodoo, and the pin-stuck doll, come from foreign novels and films. Haiti recognised Vodou officially in 2003. Many ceremonies include animal offerings, described by practitioners as feeding the spirits.