Encyclopedia of African Religion

Republic of Dahomey) are inseparable.Vodunis a
word in the Fongbe language, one of the lan-
guages spoken in Benin. The wordVodunmeans
“spirit” and is used to denote both African deities
(Vodun lèbi: all deities, all divinities or gods) and
the worship of the deities (Vodun sin sèn: the
belief in and worship of Vodun). The meaning of
Vodun is beyond the various representations or
emblems that we may see because Vodun is, in
fact, the invisible spiritual force that inhabits
those representations. In view of this, the Fonnu
(the Fon people) call Vodun by many names.
Vodun is referred to asNubudo(a principle that
cannot be explicated, a force whose point of
departure is not perceptible). Another name for
Vodun isNugongon(a concept whose meaning
is deep). The Fon people also call Vodun by the
nameNujiwu(a thrilling principle that must be
revered, a spiritual force that is beyond anyone’s
genie).YèhwéorVodun Yèhwé(Yè: “silhouette,
spirit”; andhwé: “sun, purity”; hence, pure spiri-
tuality) is another name by which the Fonnu call
Vodun. Finally, the Fon people call Vodun by yet
another name,Hun(“blood, source of life”). As a
matter of fact, the Vodunsi (the Vodun adept or
initiated follower of the Vodun religion) is also
calledYèhwésiorHunsi. Likewise,Hunkpamèor
Hunxwé is another appellation for the Vodun
convent orVodunkpamè.

Selected Vodun in Benin

and Their Attributes

The Vodun pantheon is vast. It includes many
deities, divinities, or gods whose attributions,
roles, and importance in society vary considerably.
The world was created by Nana Buluku, an
androgynous supreme God. From Nana Buluku
came the twin deities, Mawu and Lisa. Mawu-Lisa
(also spelledMahu-Lisa,Mahou-Lissa, orMahu-
Lissa) is therefore the first on the list of primary
deities in the Dahomean Vodun pantheon. Mawu
and Lisa (also calledSegbo-Lisa) are the creator
couple of Heaven and Earth. Mawu, the female
principle, corresponds to the moon and is associ-
ated with night, fertility, motherhood, gentleness,
forgiveness, rest, and joy, all characteristics that
one sees in women. Lisa, the male principle, cor-
responds to the sun and is associated with day,
heat, work, power, war, strength, toughness, and

intransigence, all things that characterize men.

Hence, in the Fon Cosmology, Mawu and Lisa are

the sky gods who absorb the nature of the

Supreme Being or God Almighty. In its role as the

patron saint of the universe and all things and

creatures in it, Mawu-Lisa applied a systematic

division of labor by delegating specific roles and

duties to its children, that is, all Vodun, who serve

as intermediaries or emissaries between human

beings and Mawu-Lisa. Some of Mawu-Lisa’s

children and their respective roles and attributions

are as follows:

• Sakpata: the oldest child ofMawuto whom the
  Earth was entrusted. He is the god of smallpox
  and the Vodun of wealth or prosperity. He is
  also known asAyivodun(god of the Earth) or
  Ainon(proprietor of the Earth).


• HeviossoorHebiosso(also spelledXêviossoor
  Xêbiosso) is also known asJivodun(Ji, sky;
  hence, Vodun of the sky): This is Mawu’s sec-
  ond child, who is in charge of the sky, thunder,
  or lightning, and rain. He is the Vodun of
  Justice who punishes criminals and evil doers as
  well as anything, trees and animals, considered
  harmful, by striking them down, especially
  during rain.Xêviosso’s cult is one of the most
  important cults in the western part of the Bight
  of Benin. This Vodun is represented by lightning
  rounds (or ammunitions) calledsokpinand a
  thunder axe known assossiovi.


• XuorTovodun, also known asAgbéor
  Avlékété: the god of the Ocean.


• GuorOgu: the god of iron.Guis considered
  the Vodun of blacksmiths, warriors, and
  hunters. This Vodun does not condone evil
  doing insofar as he kills accomplices of wrong-
  doing when he is appealed to. A famous phrase
  among the Fon of Dahomey is “Yé da Gu do
  me” (to call onGuto deal with someone or to
  sendGuonto somebody). Gu is represented by
  pieces of iron.


• Aguê: the fifth child ofMawu, whois responsible
  for overseeing agriculture and the forests. This is
  the Vodun that reigns over birds and all animals.


• Jo: the god of invisibility, the Vodun of the air.


• Lègba:Mawu’s youngest son, who barely received
  any endowments because all had been divided up
  among his older siblings. This accounts for his
  jealous inclination. He is, however, the guardian

692 Vodou in Benin