Conflict for The Practice of Voduo

The traditions of Vodou are still embedded in New Orleans history both past and current. Vodou has been demonized and scrutinized by many people of New Orleans and is often a religion that is widely misunderstood by people globally. As Newman states from the article Savages and Sables Subjects, “voodoo in New Orleans however became the manufactured identification of slave devil worship in the Christian mind”. This idea that Vodou is from the devil is still a idea of many people today.

Ceremonies of dance and offerings also promote self expression within Vodou culture. It forms and conveys identity by honoring the past traditions of Vodou and the stories past down from generation to generation.

There are many places of significance in New Orleans one of which is called the Congo Square. During the slave trade, after slaves were off from their duties they would spend their time in the Congo square performing ceremonies to keep their traditions alive. They would also use this time to catch up with other family members who had either been traded off or moved to a different homes or families. Today people still congregate here to perform rituals or ceremonies to honor the land which is sacred to the Vodou folk group.