Vodou Day Pitch Book

Our Mission
The spiritual medicine of Vodou brings healing and relief from the shackles of slavery that bind the master
and the slave to the same chain of social division. Inspired by National Vodun Day in Benin and led by black
community members, New Orleans National Vodou Day is a day of collective remembrance and spiritual
reparation that is preceded by a symposium, and includes a procession to monuments at the sites of slavery
in New Orleans, ritual to account for and seek absolution for the city’s and the country’s participation in the
institution of slavery, homage to those Ancestors who suffered through and survived the transatlantic slave
trade, and honor and appreciation for the achievements of those who came out of oppression. Two days for
education, creative expression, elevation, cultural exchange, and above all, healing. Through authentic Vodou
traditions, handed down through generations, we offer a path to healing from the ongoing ramifications of
slavery and racism in the United States.
Vision
Through an international partnership, New Orleans National Vodou Day becomes a major annual event in New Orleans,
bringing peace, relief and healing, and connecting New Orleans with Benin, Haiti - the major points of the Transatlantic Slave
Trade and hubs of Vodou - as well as all nations where African Traditional Religions are practiced, in a healing circuit and
drawing visitors from around the world.
Suppression
African-based religions were always suppressed by colonists and slave owning societies because these cultural traditions
provided a source of empowerment, solace and healing. There is an ongoing effort to deny the history of slavery and racism
in this country. History needs to be understood and not suppressed. African Traditional Religions continue to offer a path to
empowerment and relief for those Ancestors who suffered and their descendants, and healing of past and present sins.
Goals
1. **Preservation of Vodou Heritage:** We are committed to preserving and promoting the authentic Vodou traditions handed down
through generations. Through education and immersive experiences, we aim to dispel myths and misconceptions, fostering a respectful
appreciation of this sacred practice.
2. **Cultural Exchange:** New Orleans National Vodou Day bridges diverse communities, inviting people of all backgrounds to come
together and share in the rich tapestry of Vodou culture. We believe in the power of cultural exchange to foster unity and understanding.
Our event drives tourism from the African diaspora and the United States.
3. **Ancestral Reverence:** Central to our mission is the deep reverence for our ancestors. Through rituals, ceremonies, and artistic
expressions, we provide a platform for participants to connect with their ancestral roots and honor the spirits that guide and protect us.
4. **Artistic Expression:** We celebrate the artistic and creative expressions intrinsic to Vodou culture. Through music, dance, visual
arts, and storytelling, we aim to showcase the beauty and depth of Vodou's artistic heritage. In its first year NONVD has commissioned
two installations in the city of New Orleans.
5. **Community Building:** The event seeks to create a sense of belonging and unity within the community. We provide a space for
individuals to come together, share their stories, and strengthen bonds that transcend cultural differences. This event will make New
Orleans a pilgrimage site for African Americans and Africans.
6. **Education and Awareness:** We are dedicated to dispelling stereotypes and misunderstandings surrounding Vodou. Through
workshops, lectures, and interactive experiences, we empower participants to gain a deeper understanding of Vodou's spiritual
significance and its role in shaping the cultural identity of New Orleans.
Partnership with Benin
On July 28, 2024 Senator Prof. Mahougnon Kakpo signed a
letter of irreversible partnership with New Orleans National
Vodou Day. As head priest of Benin, Prof. Kakpo is leading the
ceremony following our procession on April 6th, 2025.
Colloque Scientifique International
The Traces of Vodun in Post-slavery Societies

Held over three days, the international colloquium featured 30 presenters daily who spoke on
the traces of Vodou in post-slavery societies. The aim of the colloquium is to approach Vodou
from an academic and scientific perspective, thus legitimizing its impact on society.
New Orleans National Vodou Day
Symposium April 5th, 2025
The symposium will be a series of presentations, film screenings, and ritual offerings focusing on Vodou throughout
the world. There will also be a program relating to Vodou and creative arts for young people.
The following presenters have confirmed their attendance:
Prof. Laté Lawson-Hellu, Western University Canada
Prof. Yaovi Akakpo, University of Lomé Togo
Adamu Danjuma Abubakar, University of Alabama
Dr. Maxime Vignon, University of Alabama
Dr. Alfred Djossou, University of Abomey-Calavi
Dr. Dognon E. Dorothee, University of Abomey-Calavi
Filmmaker Régine Romain

Benin's Mask Festival is a three-day event
that showcases the country's cultural heritage
through traditional masks. The festival brings
together people from Benin, Burkina Faso,
and Togo. Some say the festival helps visitors
understand Benin's culture and Vodun
practices. It was attended by 40,000
international guests.
The masks are brightly painted and move like

puppets, telling myths and moral stories
through mime. Each mask represents a
character, and only initiates know the true
nature of the symbolic characters. For
example, the Egun masks represent the
spirits of the deceased, and only initiates of
the cult wear them.
The festival also includes ceremonies to

resolve social problems and infertility.
https://www.festivaldesmasques.com/
Big Chief Victor Harris and Mardi Gras Tradition
Big Chief Victor Harris of the Mandingo Warriors, the spirit of Fi Yi Yi, draws strongly from African traditions in
his suit making. Masking culture in New Orleans upholds traditions whose roots go back to Africa.
Harris at New Orleans National Vodou Day 2024

National Vodun Day Ouidah, Benin
On January 10th, the Dagbo King leads a procession to sites of
importance to the Transatlantic Slave Trade, where small
ceremonies are performed, followed by a major Vodun
ceremony. The procession begins under a tree where the slave
auctions were held, then to the Tree of Forgetting, around which
they were walked so they would forget who they were and where
they came from, then the Memorial of Repentance, dedicated to
repentance for the complicity of their ancestors in the slave trade
and to petition the forgiveness of the descendants of enslaved
Africans now living in the diaspora.
Voodoo festival procession at the Door of No Return, Ouidah, Benin Republic.

https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/january-10-what-happens-at-benin-republics-annual-voodoo-festival/kr2zyh5
It continues to the Somai Enclosure where they were said to have

waited for the slave ships to arrive, then to the Tree of Return where
the slaves were walked around the tree three times so that their spirits
would ultimately return to their native land, then to the Door of No
Return, a large arch where the enslaved were forced onto the slave
ships. This event is attended by 2 million international guests.
National Vodun Day Ouidah, Benin
The Door of No Return. Ouidah, Benin

Inaugural New Orleans National Vodou Day
Inaugural New Orleans National Vodou Day
https://www.vodouday.org/
Tourism
Fihlani, P. (2017, August 31). Has voodoo been misjudged?. BBC News.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41048840
In the Caribbean, African Traditions developed into various religions. In Haiti, Vodun
mixed with European Catholicism and Native practices to become Haitian Vodou.
Vodou Ceremony in Haiti

Between the years 1809 and 1810, following the Haitian revolution, 10,000 refugees poured into the Port of New Orleans,
doubling the population of the city. Vodou and African culture left its footprints all over New Orleans culture, in graveyard
displays, in wrought iron patterns of balconies, in jazz music and blues lyrics, in the Mardi Gras Indians; beaded suits,
dance steps, rhythms, and call and response chants, in the cuisine, architecture, aesthetic and worldview.
The Middle Passage
Andrew Sluyter, “Death on the Middle Passage: A Cartographic Approach to the Atlantic Slave Trade”,
Esclavages & Post-esclavages [Online], 3 | 2020, Online since 27 November 2020, connection on 17 August
2024. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/slaveries/3358; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/slaveries.3358
Historical and Spiritual Pilgrimage
The port of Ouidah, Benin was a point of departure for enslaved Africans who
were taken to North America and the Caribbean islands. It is a pilgrimage site for
people of the African Diaspora.
New Orleans was one of the principle points of entrance for the slave trade. For
many African Americans in the United States, it is likely their ancestors entered
through the port of New Orleans, making it an important site for those interested in
their history. Much of the culture in New Orleans as we know it has its roots in
African tradition and practices.
New Orleans, Haiti, and Benin are principle hubs of Vodou for those who are
interested in learning about African Traditional Religions.
Tourism Impact
The inaugural Festival des Masques attracted 40,000 international visitors to Porto
Novo, Benin.
The Colloque Scientifique included 80+ scholars and experts from numerous
countries,including Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Brazil, France, Martinique,
Haiti, Germany, Italy, and Canada.
Benin’s National Vodun Days draws 2 million international visitors.

Vodou Day Pitch Book

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vodou Day Pitch Book

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vodou Day Pitch Book

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Our Mission

The Traces of Vodun in Post-slavery Societies

The following presenters have confirmed their attendance:

Prof. Laté Lawson-Hellu, Western University Canada

Prof. Yaovi Akakpo, University of Lomé Togo

Adamu Danjuma Abubakar, University of Alabama

Dr. Maxime Vignon, University of Alabama

Dr. Alfred Djossou, University of Abomey-Calavi

Dr. Dognon E. Dorothee, University of Abomey-Calavi

Filmmaker Régine Romain

The masks are brightly painted and move like

The festival also includes ceremonies to

Harris at New Orleans National Vodou Day 2024

Voodoo festival procession at the Door of No Return, Ouidah, Benin Republic.

It continues to the Somai Enclosure where they were said to have

The Door of No Return. Ouidah, Benin

Vodou Ceremony in Haiti

Benin’s National Vodun Days draws 2 million international visitors.

You might also like