African Voodoo

Voodoo is a term with a certain image attached to it. This image is derived from American Gothic horror films, mixed with a little bit of racism, or at least a lack of knowledge amongst westerners about the purpose/beliefs and especially the practices of Voodoo. The Vodun religion revolves around the Voodoo spirits. It is not possible for me to go into detail about all the different Vodun ghosts and what they do. However, suffice it to say that the Vodun have a hierarchy and a group of important deities that control the spirit world as well as the everyday human world. In addition to the Vodun ghosts, there are local ghosts in everything from rivers, trees, local villages, and individual families. These local ghosts include many spirits of ancestors who are left behind to protect and help the people and environment that were close to them in times of need.

Voodoo Ritual

Voodoo rituals in Benin may look different from what you see in movies. The stigma around voodoo often involves human sacrifice and curses. Martin De Souza, a voodoo priestess, has been trying to change this perception for 20 years. Europeans spread negative views of voodoo to control Africans. Reports of ritual crimes have cast a shadow over the voodoo community. But De Souza says human sacrifice is not part of voodoo today. Witchcraft is different from voodoo. Voodoo believers work hard to protect people from evil. Voodoo is practiced worldwide, with millions of believers in West Africa and beyond. Voodoo has roots in the history of slavery, with people bringing their religion to places like New Orleans, Cuba, Haiti, and Brazil. We remember and honor those ancestors on January 10th.

Benin hosts an annual voodoo festival to honor its cultural history. Voodoo was once suppressed by France in its African and Caribbean colonies. Despite this, voodoo is now a recognized religion in Benin along with Christianity and Islam. Only 11% of the population identify as voodoo believers, but some believe more practice in secret. We are at the palace of Benin's supreme voodoo leader, who is also known as the voodoo pope. He is about to induct voodoo priests and priestesses from around the world as representatives in their respective countries. The goal is to raise awareness and attract more initiates to the religion.

Blood Sacrifice

The nature of rituals varies greatly depending on the specific cultural practices involved. Different cultures have their own unique ways, methods, and purposes for conducting bloodwork. As an individual, I am not extensively familiar with the intricacies of bloodwork rituals.

However, sacrifice is a common element that can be found across various cultures. Sacrifice differs from an offering in that while an offering can be a simple gift, it does not necessarily have to be expensive or difficult to obtain. Offerings are often seen as presents or sustenance for the Spirits.

On the other hand, sacrifices must involve a level of difficulty or present real challenges to the individual performing them. This is why we often use phrases like "parents sacrifice their free time for their kids" or "an army spouse might sacrifice their home and way of life to follow their spouse around the world." These acts require significant effort and can be considered true sacrifices because they pose real challenges to the individuals involved.

Similarly, blood sacrifice follows the same principle. It is an offering in the sense that a Spirit may derive nourishment from it. However, for it to be considered a sacrifice, it must involve pain or difficulty. This is why I caution against engaging in blood sacrifice, as it is easy to cause serious and permanent harm to oneself, which is not worth it in the long run. Instead, it would be more advisable to consider alternative offerings, such as purchasing a high-quality and expensive bottle of whiskey, which can still hold significance without the potential risks associated with blood sacrifice.

GRAVEYARD ROBBERS

When a loved one passes away, it can be a difficult time to cope with the financial implications of the funeral arrangements. After the grieving process has been completed, some people may choose to visit their loved one's grave and place flowers, or to do what is known as "body snatching", which involves taking the actual remains of the body instead of the valuable parts. Body snatching has been a problem since ancient times, with wealthy Egyptians burying valuables in graves as a form of "bury treasure" for criminals. In the early 19th century, medical schools in the United States had a strong interest in cadavers for further study of the human body, and regulations were not as strict as they are in modern times.

A cemetery in Benin has been ransacked by tomb raiders who are believed to be involved in the black-market trade of human organs and skulls in voodoo ritual. Since Saturday, more than 100 graves have been dug up in the village of Dangbo, which is located 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the capital. According to a mason who works at the cemetery, several masked men were seen removing organs and skulls from the graves. This is the most serious grave-robbing case of its kind in the West African nation, which is home to most of the world’s voodoo practitioners. “In this region, grave-robbing is about money,” Joseph Afaton, the cemetery’s director, told AFP. “It’s for sacrifices or bewitching.” In central Africa, body parts of human and rare animal species are prized for their alleged supernatural powers and are used in voodoo ceremonies. Traditionally, traffickers acquire human remains from grave-robbers, but there has also been a recent string of killings linked to the trade.