کشور افریقایی بنین با ۵۰ درصد از جمعیتش جایی بس غریب است.این تعداد مذهب انیمیسم دارند .وودو از (افریقای غربی )به هاییتی رفت و مذهبی بس غریب است.اجداد و نیاکان و ارواح حضور دارند و با انها می توان ارتباط برقرار کرد.همه چیز روح دارد.میلیونها نفر در افریقای غربی ،هاییتی ،کارائیب ،امریکای شمالی و جنوبی انیمیست هستند و وودو باور.در ۱۵۱۰ بردگان افریقای غربی (خلیج گینه ،سنگال ،گامبیا تا ناحیه ی کنگو )به مزارع کاراییب امدند و به زور مسیحی شدند.اعتقاد به مذهب اجدادی افریقایی تنها مرهم زخم این عده بود.این بردگان از جاهای مختلف بودند ولی وضع اهالی نیجریا و داهومی بدتر بود.این دو ناحیه نقش مهمتری در تشکیل مذهب وودو در کارائیب داشتند.خدایی بزرگ وجود دارد،خیلی انتزاعی و ناشناخته و همه جایی.در زیر خدای بزرگ ،ارواح یا لوا وجود دارند که با مسائلی چون عشق ،شادی ،سلامت ،کار و...ارتباط دارند.باید به این لواها (ارواح )پیشکش کرد تا در کارهای گوناگون بختیار گردیم.بردگان بیچاره ی افریقایی قادر نبودند کیش نیاکانی خود را پاس دارند.انها با زیرکی لواها را با قدیس های کاتولیک پیوند دادند.
Followers of Vodun believe that each person has a soul which is composed of two parts: a gros bon ange or "big guardian angel", and a ti bon ange or "little guardian angel". The latter leaves the body during sleep and when the person is possessed by a Loa during a ritual. There is a concern that the ti bon ange can be damaged or captured by evil sorcery while it is free of the body.
The purpose of rituals is to make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts, to obtain help in the form of more abundant food, higher standard of living, and improved health. Human and Loa depend upon each other; humans provide food and other materials; the Loa provide health, protection from evil spirits and good fortune. Rituals are held to celebrate lucky events, to attempt to escape a run of bad fortune, to celebrate a seasonal day of celebration associated with a Loa, for healing, at birth, marriage and death.
Vodun priests can be male (houngan or hungan), or female (mambo). A Vodun temple is called a hounfour (or humfort). At its center is a poteau-mitan a pole where the God and spirits communicate with the people. An altar will be elaborately decorated with candles, pictures of Christian saints, symbolic items related to the Loa, etc. Rituals consist of some of the following components:
a feast before the main ceremony
creation of a veve, a pattern of flour or cornmeal on the floor which is unique to the Loa for whom the ritual is to be conducted
shaking a rattle and beating drums which have been cleansed and purified
chanting
dancing by the houngan and/or mambo and the hounsis (students studying Vodun). The dancing will typically build in intensity until one of the dancers (usually a hounsis) becomes possessed by a Loa and falls. His or her ti bon ange has left their body and the spirit has taken control. The possessed dancer will behave as the Loa and is treated with respect and ceremony by the others present.
animal sacrifice; this may be a goat, sheep, chicken, or dog. They are usually humanely killed by slitting their throat; blood is collected in a vessel
The possessed dancer may drink some of the blood. The hunger of the Loa is then believed to be satisfied. The animal is usually cooked and eaten. Animal sacrifice is a method of consecrating food for consumption by followers of Vodun, their gods and ancestors.
Evil sorcery:
The houngan and mambos confine their activities to "white" magic which is used to bring good fortune and healing. However caplatas (also known as bokors) perform acts of evil sorcery or black magic, sometimes called "left-handed Vodun". Rarely, a houngan will engage in such sorcery; a few alternate between white and dark magic.
One belief unique to Vodun is that a dead person can be revived after having been buried. After resurrection, the zombie has no will of their own, but remains under the control of others. In reality, a zombie is a living person who has never died, but is under the influence of powerful drugs administered by an evil sorcerer. Although most Haitians believe in zombies
few have ever seen one. There are a few recorded instances of persons who have claimed to be zombies.
Sticking pins in "voodoo dolls" was once used as a method of cursing an individual by some followers
of Vodun in New Orleans; this practice continues occasionally in South America. The practice became closely associated with Voodo