Hollywood "Voodoo"
Most common Western thought on Vodun has been driven by inaccurate books and movies. For example, the concept of the evil "witch doctor" creating an army of zombies. Another such example is the human sacrifice to the evil diety. While Vodun does account for evil-doers, the vast majority of the practitioners worship for benevolent reasons. In fact, those who attempt to invoke evil spirits are sought out and purged from the community with the utmost urgency.
Nevertheless, black magic is a part of Vodun beliefs, just not quite in the way portrayed by Hollywood. Black magic is believed to be practiced by priests called bokors and by secret societies that splinter off from the main Vodun communities. The existing beliefs in black magic--though not practiced regularly, by any means--are the sources of many misconceptions about Vodun.
A sensational book (S. St. John, "Haiti or the Black Republic") was written in
1884. It described Vodun as a profoundly evil religion, and included lurid descriptions of human sacrifice, cannibalism, etc., some of which had been extracted from Vodun priests by torture. This book caught the imagination of people outside the West Indies, and was responsible for much of the misunderstanding and fear that is present today. Hollywood found this a rich source for Voodoo screen plays. Horror movies began in the 1930's and continue today to misrepresent Vodun. It is only since the late 1950's that accurate studies by anthropologists have been published.
One particular source of misinformation is the Vodun belief 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 roots and herbs 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 Voodoo in the public mind because of horror movies.
Another source of confusion is the tendency to use words interchangeably while talking about different institutions of religion, and methods of cults and sects. Many people talk about 'witch-doctors' and 'medicine men' in a way implying a person of evil intent. In reality, most African "witchdoctors" are nothing more than religious leaders (similar to priests), charged with finding the spiritual source of a physical ailment. Conversely, a "medicine man" would describe a "herbalist" or "traditional healer", who uses herbs, roots and barks to heal, and claim no magical powers.
While some of the Western terms used to describe these people may be accurate in a literal sense, the general attitude towards these individuals and what they represent has been cautious, at best. Given the lack of accurate information and the wealth of fiction, there is little doubt as to why attitudes have been so fearful. The next time you see a movie or read a book about a "Voodoo sorcerer", remember that it is fiction and should be treated as such.
Despite a steady stream of misinformation regarding Vodun, there have been some steps to recognize it--and African-based religions as a whole--by prominent figures. For example, Pope John Paul II, on a recent visit to Benin, apologized for centuries of ridiculing African cultural beliefs by the Western world. This small, yet significant gesture, was an important step in these African spiritual beliefs gaining greater acceptance and respect.