They sing, with their voices rising above the gunfire erupting miles away as the frantic drumbeats drown out their troubles. They offered him money and prayers in hopes they would make it through Haiti's deepening crisis. It has a single God known as “Bondye,” Creole for “Good God,” and more than a thousand spirits known as “lwas,” some which aren’t always benevolent. In recent years Vodou has been attracting more believers given the surge in gang violence and government inaction, said Cecil Elien Isac, a 4th-generation oungan. It's unknown how many people currently practice Vodou in Haiti, but there's a popular saying: "Haiti is 70% Catholic, 30% Protestant, and 100% Vodou."

Source: Ethiopian News May 10, 2024 11:03 UTC