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Voodoo
Religious beliefs
and practices, African in origin and also held by certain Caribbean
peoples, particularly in Haiti, where voodoo was granted official
religious status in 2003. Similar observances are found in Jamaica, under
the name pocomania, and in parts of the United States and in the Guianas.
A highly developed voodooistic religion known as candomblé is found in
Brazil. Although the magical aspects of voodoo are related to beliefs
and practices found throughout the world, the basic features of voodoo
were brought by slaves from W Africa (particularly those from what is now
Benin), where the name originated and where the religion is still
practiced. Voodoo contends that all of nature is controlled by spiritual
forces which must be placated through offerings and animal sacrifice;
ecstatic trances and magical practices play an important role in its
ritual. In the New World, Christian elements were introduced, and the
African deities became identified with various saints. At various time
attempts have been made to suppress voodoo, but voodoo survived and
continues to flourish.
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