Vodoun, a complex religious system, draws its richness from its linguistic support and its symbolism, which explain its philosophical conceptions on God (Mahu: Sèlio and Sèlissa), the universe (Wèkè), life (Gbè) and man (Gbéto). By believing that man is at the summit of creation, Vodoun sanctifies the fundamental elements of nature (Fire: Xèviosso, Earth: Sakpata, Water: Toxosu, Air: Dan), constituting the human body and providing it with energy vital. Likewise, man enters the world of divinities as an ancestor-vodoun (Toxwio, Tovodoun-Linsu).
Vodoun, through its cosmogony, its philosophy and the emotional power of its rituals, guides man towards harmony with nature, the universe and the Supreme Being (God). In this harmonization, man draws the wisdom necessary for his existence and his evolution towards an elusive future. Although traditional Vodoun is anchored in Beninese land, it also manifests itself in Nigeria, Togo and Ghana. Its expansion towards the American continent through slavery took other forms, adapted to new contexts.
It is gratifying to note that this African spiritual culture has survived the torments of slavery, colonization and ideological revolutions. The official recognition of the Vodoun cult as a religion in its own right, with its day of celebration on January 10, dates back to the international demonstrations of the Slavery Route from 1992 to 1994 (Ouidah 92), under the aegis of the UNESCO. Benin, the cradle of Vodoun, has undertaken ambitious steps since 2016 to promote its cultural and artistic heritage, with the National Vodoun Day renamed this year #VodunDays.
