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Voudoun Is a very widespread religion, having many different aspects. The most common type known (Creolized Hatian Vodou) is actually practiced by only one percent of African believers but is the most written and known about in American history. The custom I am most familiar with is ceremonial sacrifices and dancing. The sacrifices are done to attract the attention of the Gods and Goddesses/spirits known by their nature, either Rada ("cool" spirits) and Petwo ("hot" spirits). Every practitioner is supposed to have a very tight relationship with one of these spirits (think of it like a patron). The sacrifices are usually of animals, only of which the blood is given. The meat of the animal is then used to feed the participants of the ritual, never wasted. The dancing serves as a way to allow the spirit access to a human host, offering the spirit to live momentarily in the person's body. The people dance themselves to exhaustion and trance like states, and when taken over they claim to have no memories of what happened.
Creolized Vodou (what is also known as Voodoo) has the belief their is one major creator God, Bondy?. This is basically the same as the Christian, Islamic, and Judaic "God" except for his speech and mannerisms.
The Voodoo doll was actually from European myth where it was seen as a way to gain protection. It is assumed that Hatian slaves used the method to scare and startle slave owners, but it has no linear history with any other form of Voudoun. The practice was kept up mainly as a way to make easy money off of tourists.
Marie Laveau is known as a very famous practitioner of Voodoo. She is a very big idol, similar to Saints in many religions. You should look her up.
And, finally, check out Mami Wata, a very paradoxical female diety. She controls both masculine and feminine characteristics in her rule, and has much history and mythology surrounding her.
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Yoruba, Voudon and Santeria?
