Spirit Service

Vodún and Vodou in the African Atlantic World

By: Eric J. Montgomery - editor, Timothy R. Landry - editor, Christian N. Vannier - editor

Narrated by: Ron Butler

Known in the Dominican Republic and Togo as Vodu, in Benin as Vodún, and in Haiti as Vodou, West African religion has, for hundreds of years, served as a repository of sacred knowledge while simultaneously evolving in response to human experience and globalization.

Spirit Service: Vodún and Vodou in the African Atlantic World explores this dynamic religion, its mobility, and its place in the modern world. By examining the systems—ritual practices, community-based spirit veneration, and spiritual means of securing opportunity and well-being—alongside the individuals who worship, this rich collection offers the first comprehensive ethnographic study of West African spirit service on a broad scale. Contributors consider social encounters between African/Haitian practitioners and European/North American spiritual seekers, economies, and histories, funerary rites and spirit possessions, and examinations of gender and materiality.

Offering much-needed perspective on this historically disparaged religion, Spirit Service reminds us all that the gods are growing, assimilating, and demanding recognition and respect.

©2022 Indiana University Press (P)2023 Tantor

One of the best audiobooks on the subject

This book is a very thoughtful, well researched collection of essays on VODUN, as practiced in West Africa and the Americas. A definite must have for those interested in Voodoo as a world, multinational, multi, ethnic, spiritual, tradition, or traditions

The performance and the pronunciation of key terms Are great.,

The authors are extremely sensitive and respectful to the subject matter.

This is a definite must have for people interested in Voodoo and Orisha in the Americas.

One of my favorite books on Vodun.