Voodoo: Past and Present

by Ron Bodin

Near Fine Soft Cover/Stapled BRAND NEW Copy w/trace edge rubs. Fifth volume of the Louisiana Life Series published by the Center for Louisiana Studies. Historical and sociological monograph exploring the world of Voodoo in Southwest Louisiana today. Generally accepted as a Haitian religion born from elements of Africa ancestral worship and Roman Catholicism, Louisiana admits to no such practice of Voodoo. Instead, they are adherents of Hoodoo, a series of superstitions based on strongly held belief system of Christian faith healing. Bodin explores this world order and gives samples of its recipes for life. One such recorded How to get a man/woman to love you, calls for a drop of blood, from one's pricked finger, on a stick of chewing gum; should the person chew it, he/she will no be able to resist you! Contents of the volume 1, Introduction; 2, Historical Background; 3, Notes; 4, Newspaper Accounts of Voodoo in Louisisana; 5, A Visit with Voodoo Priestess Ava Kay Jones; and, 6. A Hoodoo Find, followed by Glossary of Voodoo Terms as used by Louisiana Informants (Or What Everybody Should Know About Voodoo).

101 pages, Staple Bound

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bodin presents this concise account of Voodoo in Louisiana tracing its roots to traditional West African religions and then to Louisiana by way of Haiti and Cuba following Touissant L’Ouverture’s successful revolution, as French slave-owners and their enslaved Africans escaped to Louisiana. There the Africans continued to practice their religion at night and out of sight of their masters. It gradually incorporated the learning and wisdom of traditional root doctors from other parts of Africa and then with the traditions and spirituality of Catholic Christianity. Following the American Civil War in New Orleans because of prominent figures Doctor John Montenet and Marie Laveau developed into an organized structure with rituals and began to incorporate European occult practices using candles and dolls, and white practitioners, and a commercial side.

Following this background and supplementing is a collection of newspaper accounts from Louisiana papers from 1843 to 1990 covering Voodoo and other supernatural folk beliefs. Ending the booklet, which is part of the Louisiana Life series from the University of Southwestern Louisiana Center for Louisiana Studies, are the author’s notes of his 1990 interview with Voodoo priestess Ava Kay Jones.

[Maggo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das Heft gibt einen guten Überblick über die Traditonen des Voodoo und Hoodoo, deren Entstehung und insbesondere die Unterschiede untereinander sowie die Abgrenzung zu diversen anderen Strömungen und dem Bild in der Popkultur. Dabei geht es aber nicht allzu sehr in die Tiefe, sondern bedient sich einer Handvoll Beispiele, die exemplarisch für die historische Entwicklung stehen sollen.

Ergänzt wird das Paper durch eine Reihe von Zeitungsartikeln, die jedoch vornehmlich aus dem frühen 20. Jahrhundert stammen und teilweise nur am Rande mit dem Thema zu tun haben. Dies liefert allerdings im Gegenzug ein differenzierteres Bild von Voodoo und Hoodoo in moderneren Zeiten und zeigt, wie integral dieser Glaube lange Zeit war und teilweise immer noch ist.

Leider gibt es einige Druckfehler, sodass einzelne Zeilen doppelt vorkommen oder (schlimm) fehlen. Ich hatte jedoch nicht den Eindruck, dass dies inhaltlich zu Problemen führte.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a concise overview of both Voodoo, as organized religion, and Hoodoo, as folk synthesis. The summary, that makes up the first part of the book, explains the origins and evolution of voodoo (from West African slavery to post-Haitian revolution to resistance to US race policies, especially the culture of Jim Crow, to emergence of tourist phenomenon) as well as explaining folk medicine/religious system of hoodoo. The second part of the book consists of news clippings concerning Voodoo and Hoodoo.

An excellent short book on the subject and well worth the read.

[Kristen Giessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thin little book is the fifth and last portion of the Louisiana Life Series. It was super helpful in understanding how voodoo developed, with roots from Africa making its way to Haiti and then to New Orleans. There are some really cool examples of VooDoo in Louisiana, through articles and interviews. And a map you can go visit some VooDoo milestone places in New Orleans!