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Haitian Vodou: An Introduction to Haiti's Indigenous Spiritual Tradition
Haitian Vodou is a fascinating spiritual tradition rich with ceremonies and magic, songs and prayers, dances and fellowship. Yet outside of Haiti, next to no one understands this joyous and profound way of life. ln Haitian Vodou, Mambo Chita Tann explores the historical roots and contemporary practices of this unique tradition, including discussions
Customs, beliefs, sacred spaces, and ritual objects Characteristics and behaviors of the Lwa, the spirits served by Vodou practitioners Common misconceptions such as "voodoo dolls" and the zombie phenomenon Questions and answers for attending ceremonies and getting involved in a sosyete (Vodou house) Correspondence tables, Kreyol glossary, supplemental prayer texts, and an extensive list of reference books and online resources Well-researched, comprehensive, and engaging, Haitian Vodou will be a welcome addition for people new to Haitian spirituality as well as for students, practitioners, and academics.
Customs, beliefs, sacred spaces, and ritual objects Characteristics and behaviors of the Lwa, the spirits served by Vodou practitioners Common misconceptions such as "voodoo dolls" and the zombie phenomenon Questions and answers for attending ceremonies and getting involved in a sosyete (Vodou house) Correspondence tables, Kreyol glossary, supplemental prayer texts, and an extensive list of reference books and online resources Well-researched, comprehensive, and engaging, Haitian Vodou will be a welcome addition for people new to Haitian spirituality as well as for students, practitioners, and academics.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2012
71 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 22, 2016
Great book by an insightful, kind and inspiring person. I recommend it highly to anyone interested in learning about Vodou.
March 22, 2021
I think this world would be a much better place if people made an effort to learn and understand other lifestyles rather than being so ignorantly critical. Haiti is a beautiful, fascinating country with rich history and culture. Vodou is an integral part of this culture and as Mambo Chita Tann puts it, '... is not a single tradition at all, but represents a collection of religions and cultures and histories.' From the History of Haiti to the traditional Vodou ceremony - this books covers it all very well.
January 29, 2021
Pretty interesting
A fairly straight forward intro to Vodou, and the history of Haiti. I read it in a day.
This book is info based. It does not try to sensationalize Vodou and spends a lot of time debunking myths and telling you what Vodou is not.
There is also a lot of history of Haiti. I actually found the history of Haiti a little more interesting.
I did learn a few new things, but most of this is stuff I knew or suspected. (That white people & Hollywood had blown it all out of proportion and made it seem more sinister than it is for profit and xenophobia.)
This book is written by a practitioner who believes in the spirits and the magic, but she puts it forward in such a matter of fact way that it comes across as rather ordinary. just a day to day kind of thing. (ordinary magic LOL) I think that I like this approach. she isn't here to thrill me or psyche me up, just tell me like it is.
A fairly straight forward intro to Vodou, and the history of Haiti. I read it in a day.
This book is info based. It does not try to sensationalize Vodou and spends a lot of time debunking myths and telling you what Vodou is not.
There is also a lot of history of Haiti. I actually found the history of Haiti a little more interesting.
I did learn a few new things, but most of this is stuff I knew or suspected. (That white people & Hollywood had blown it all out of proportion and made it seem more sinister than it is for profit and xenophobia.)
This book is written by a practitioner who believes in the spirits and the magic, but she puts it forward in such a matter of fact way that it comes across as rather ordinary. just a day to day kind of thing. (ordinary magic LOL) I think that I like this approach. she isn't here to thrill me or psyche me up, just tell me like it is.
July 13, 2022
A concise and well-written introduction to (specifically Haitian) Vodou. Mambo Chita Tann (note that "Mambo" is an honorific for one who is initiated in Vodou, the male equivalent being "Houngan") writes clearly and articulately, and actually has experience with Vodou, unlike many earlier anthropologists who were treated as outsiders and generally weren't privy to many practices.
There's a lot of misinformation regarding Vodou, with the general populace probably associating Vodou with vodoo dolls (not a thing) and zombies (far-removed from Romero). The author sets the record straight with regards to the beliefs and practices of Vodou practicioners, called Vodousiants.
Vodou isn't a revealed religion and has no central text. Additionally, Vodou is a religion which is more focused on practice rather than theory and theology, with many practices being specific to the Vodou lineage you belong to. However, there are some things which are central to all Vodou. The author mainly focuses on her lineage's practices, but also addresses possible differences in other lineages.
The book starts with quite a lengthy introduction to Haitian history from Toussaint Louverture and Dessalines through to "Papa Doc" Duvalier and Aristide, focusing mainly on its turbulent past (and present). The origins and growth of Vodou are told alongside this historical survey. Then comes a basic introduction to the concepts of Vodou, followed by addressing the inaccuracies of many portrayals of Vodou.
The second section of the book introduces the reader to the twenty-one nations of the Lwa - spirits which may be called Vodou's equivalent of angels. The Lwa are grouped under sections for Rada Lwa, Petro Lwa, Gede Lwa, and Other Lwa. Each section introduces the main Lwa for that family in order of prominence, with a short paragraph about each Lwa.
The final section is about Vodou ceremonies. This section is a lot more "practical", and includes sections on how to serve the Lwa, how an outsider should behave during a Vodou ceremony, an introduction to Vodou magic (called wanga), and how to get started with joining a Vodou family. There's even a section on preparing food for the Lwa, with a few recipes included.
Make no mistake, this isn't some occult text which will tell you how to cast spells to smite your enemies etc., but is mainly a historical and anthropological overview of Vodou. The author also clearly has a great reverence for her religion and states that it is a way of life rather than something to take advantage of, so warns against attempting to contact "dangerous" Lwa, trying to perform "spells", and people who might attempt to take advantage of others' naivety.
There's a lot of misinformation regarding Vodou, with the general populace probably associating Vodou with vodoo dolls (not a thing) and zombies (far-removed from Romero). The author sets the record straight with regards to the beliefs and practices of Vodou practicioners, called Vodousiants.
Vodou isn't a revealed religion and has no central text. Additionally, Vodou is a religion which is more focused on practice rather than theory and theology, with many practices being specific to the Vodou lineage you belong to. However, there are some things which are central to all Vodou. The author mainly focuses on her lineage's practices, but also addresses possible differences in other lineages.
The book starts with quite a lengthy introduction to Haitian history from Toussaint Louverture and Dessalines through to "Papa Doc" Duvalier and Aristide, focusing mainly on its turbulent past (and present). The origins and growth of Vodou are told alongside this historical survey. Then comes a basic introduction to the concepts of Vodou, followed by addressing the inaccuracies of many portrayals of Vodou.
The second section of the book introduces the reader to the twenty-one nations of the Lwa - spirits which may be called Vodou's equivalent of angels. The Lwa are grouped under sections for Rada Lwa, Petro Lwa, Gede Lwa, and Other Lwa. Each section introduces the main Lwa for that family in order of prominence, with a short paragraph about each Lwa.
The final section is about Vodou ceremonies. This section is a lot more "practical", and includes sections on how to serve the Lwa, how an outsider should behave during a Vodou ceremony, an introduction to Vodou magic (called wanga), and how to get started with joining a Vodou family. There's even a section on preparing food for the Lwa, with a few recipes included.
Make no mistake, this isn't some occult text which will tell you how to cast spells to smite your enemies etc., but is mainly a historical and anthropological overview of Vodou. The author also clearly has a great reverence for her religion and states that it is a way of life rather than something to take advantage of, so warns against attempting to contact "dangerous" Lwa, trying to perform "spells", and people who might attempt to take advantage of others' naivety.
November 15, 2021
I'm researching (slowly) voodoo for the third book in my series while I (pretend to) rewrite the first one and get it ready for submission. I went to the source of voodoo, Haiti, because I feel like it hasn't been Americanized the way New Orleans voodoo has. Honestly, I was looking for scary shit. I did not find it here.
The more I learn about voodoo, the more I realize that it's not the devil worship that it's been portrayed as in Hollywood. I'm kind of feeling some guilt about portraying it the way I'm about to in my book.
So, for this resource, it was both helpful and not. We get a list of the loas, which is great, but there are a LOT. It did address animal sacrifice, possession, and the zombi phenomenon. As a Christian who doesn't believe in voodoo, I kind of had a hard time swallowing it. But it was explained, both what is real and what is not. I felt like there was a huge hole in the book where the author refused to explain the "secret" element of voodoo practice, so I'm still pretty confused as to what really happens during a ceremony.
The more I learn about voodoo, the more I realize that it's not the devil worship that it's been portrayed as in Hollywood. I'm kind of feeling some guilt about portraying it the way I'm about to in my book.
So, for this resource, it was both helpful and not. We get a list of the loas, which is great, but there are a LOT. It did address animal sacrifice, possession, and the zombi phenomenon. As a Christian who doesn't believe in voodoo, I kind of had a hard time swallowing it. But it was explained, both what is real and what is not. I felt like there was a huge hole in the book where the author refused to explain the "secret" element of voodoo practice, so I'm still pretty confused as to what really happens during a ceremony.
January 3, 2022
Despite this being an introduction, Mambo Chita Tann delves into so much intricate history that it really feels like a master class. Of course, in Haitian Voodoo, many secrets of the practice are forbidden from public knowledge (and understandably so) and its practitioners are sworn to an oath, so there is plenty that we the reader don't get as well, but perhaps that is one of the beauties of Haitian Voodoo; its secrecy, still mostly free from the confines of colonialist consumption.
This was an excellent read, and I'm glad I got around to reading it. The history of Haiti is intrinsically interwoven with the history of Haitian Voodoo; the histories are together, and it is necessary to understand that, reading this book.
I highly recommend this book.
This was an excellent read, and I'm glad I got around to reading it. The history of Haiti is intrinsically interwoven with the history of Haitian Voodoo; the histories are together, and it is necessary to understand that, reading this book.
I highly recommend this book.
June 9, 2023
If you have any interest in Vodou, history and culture, this is a great read. Many of my preconceived notions about the practice were dispelled. Even though I'm white guy born in Idaho, understanding Haitian history gave me a deeper understanding of American history and my place in it. Read this book.
July 3, 2025
This book was a delight to read, the narrator chosen was paired well with the authors voice. I needed this book years ago. If you want to learn anything of value about this subject I would put your faith in this author. A genuine insight.
May 10, 2023
I loved it!
August 16, 2025
I recommended this from my dominican mentor/friend for met kalfou because so little info on him. It'll help with my mer lalfou initiation.
October 3, 2020
A great work for anyone interested in the subject. This book had an abundance of knowledge about Haitian Voudou. The author even went so far as to spell out the history of Haiti starting with Columbus and Hispaniola through multiple government upheavals and overthrows. The book discussed both Lwa families as well as individual Lwa spirits. This book is an excellent book for beginners who are curious about the subject of Haitian Voudou.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews