Vodou: Haiti's African-Derived Religion

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Chapters:
00:00 Intro, Misconceptions, and Terminology
03:12 History of Haitian Vodou
06:53 Basic Vodou Beliefs
11:24 Vodou Ritual Practice
19:54 Vodou Identity

Special thanks to:
Dr. Grete Viddal, Dr. Kyrah Malika Daniels, and Dr. Elizabeth Thomas Crocker,

For the films of Vodou ceremonies in this video, thanks also to Sosyete Nago, Manbo Asogwe Marie Maude Evans, and Jean Marie Plantin - Haiti Film Group.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @andrewmarkhenry

[jmannysantiago]

This is one of the best descriptions of Afro-Caribbean religions I’ve ever seen. The level of respect, understanding, research, and the conscious and respectful contextualizarion of our Afro-Caribbean faiths is marvelous. Thank you so much for doing this. I look forward to have a video on Santería and other Yoruba-based Afro-Caribbean religions. 😊

[kiritugeorge]

Before I actually watch it, I'd just like to say I highly appreciate you * branching out on African based religions beyond the highly influential ancient Egyptian*. Your topics on religion are highly informative so I was eager to watch one on * a different* African based religion.

Edit:
1. This was what I said in the first asterisk space - doing an African based religion for the first time.

2. This is what I said in the second asterisk space - an

I know well and you know too why I edited this comment this way. Thanks.

[antrix]

I’m Haitian and although I don’t practice vodou I have profound respect for it. From a historical and cultural perspective it deserves to be protected and respected .🇭🇹

[fasina]

🇹🇹🇳🇬-AfroCaribbean here and right off the bat I want to commend you for the attention you paid to removing the stereotypes associated with African Religious Concepts. It’s quite an irony that the ‘religions’ that kept the enslaved Africans strong was deemed ‘demonic’ while they were allowed to be tortured and slaughtered by European slave masters.

[PunkRockPetSitter]

Dr. Daniels passion is addictive! I bet she is an AMAZING teacher! Her love and excitement of the topic is contagious: I could listen to her talk about Vodou for hours!

[Ajibolaa]

As someone that’s Yoruba and speaks fon, a long time subscriber and viewer I’m so happy you made this video. You’ve definitely made my year. Btw lwa is said as luwa in Yoruba as a short form for oluwa which is God but eledumare is the main God equivalent to bon dieu. Please make the next one about Yoruba religion thank you so much.

[Mr.Crowley]

My spouse studies Hinduism and I work on medieval Catholicism. This video is so well done, and it is fascinating to me how many connections I see between very old forms of traditional Catholicism and the offerings of food, spices, sacred music and sacred dances to temple gods in the thousands of years of Hindu practice (as well as featuring statues of saints or gods in the different traditions). Thank you for such a beautiful introduction to this rich and varied tradition. The professor is fantastic!

[andersbenke]

Concise and yet rather informative, which is perfect for me. Also, the inclusion of a subject expert took the lesson beyond just the basics. Thank you for this video.

[meggorogers]

Coming from Louisiana, this is a refreshing video to see.

[namingisdifficult]

Your channel is what made me interested in religious history

[mariaurbana]

as a years-long fan of your channel, and a decades-long serviteur, i was a bit nervous when i saw this episode pop up. but i want to thank you for doing such a beautiful job! i even learned something new (the history of congolese catholicism ). i especially appreciate the comparison of manje lwa with kosher and halal practices. i've been making that comparison for years, and was so happy to hear someone else make that comparison, and to share it with a broad audience. thank you! ayibobo!

[MrJoker]

Ayibobo!!! As an initiated Vodouisant, many videos don't do vodou justice or even pronounce things right, let alone do all the research you did. Thank you

[Fux]

I really liked this one. Dr. Daniels is simply captivating, and really passionate about the subject!
I'm usually not one to ask for content, but I would love to see you talk about Spiritism and it's success in Brazil. And maybe about Umbanda later on, a uniquely brazilian religion from the 1930s. I ask only because you're the best on the platform. Thanks!

[MasoTrumoi]

When Dr. Kyrah Malika Daniels referred to Vodou offerings as "reciprocal" instead of "transactional" it hit me how that's a much less demeaning word for it. I don't know how many have heard "transactional" to describe polytheistic practice (i give gods this thing, they give me blessings), but I feel like that's kind of demeaning way to look at it. Classics classes tried to explain Greek and other European Pagan religions that way, and I feel like that might be a bit of convention from Christian historians and theologists who were demeaning these faiths either inadvertently or on purpose. Trying to make it look more worldly and less divine.


The use of the word reciprocal really makes it feel less like striking a deal and more like respecting one another, and I thought that was a beautiful sentiment towards polytheism.

[massielbeautysalon]

I’m Dominican and I also appreciate this video, it was important to me to educate myself in this matter to be able to to educate others as my mother that dislikes Haitians and their believes. I personally like to educate myself in order to have an opinion and understanding.

[orbiegleaton]

As a child of the African diaspora, and as a true follower of vodou, I thank you for this video and the real truth that you have in it!!!

[pinpon]

I have been following your channel for a really long time. I am astonished by the amount of research you put into all your videos, especially this one. I was born and raised in Haiti, and currently live in Miami. As I was raised christian, Vodou was very taboo around my family circle. Thank you for also acknowledging the current situation in Haiti, and using your platform to help and educate others.

[ninadonnithorne]

I'm doing a presentation on Vodou in my music history class and i really appreciate this video, many others has comments about inaccuracies and racism. I felt like I learned the correct things to teach my classmates. Thank you!

[kami_flowerfox]

as a dominican this is so nice to watch, we don't learn about this at all, despite the amount of haitians that live here and that they're literally our neighbor country. we often just say their religions are "of the devil", but we couldn't be more wrong. thank you so much for this video!

[mphillips]

I don’t usually like “special guest” episodes of anything, but this is one of my favorite episodes on this channel so far :D