Dominican Vudú

Part of a series on Vodun related religions called
Voodoo
Beliefs West African Vodun Arará religion Candomblé (Jejé) Cuban Vodú Dominican Vudú Haitian Vodou Hoodoo Louisiana Voodoo Tambor de Mina Venezuelan Yuyu Trinidadian Vodunu
Deities Creators Damballa Mawu Nana Buluku Loas Adjassou-Linguetor Adya Houn'tò Agassou Agwé Anaisa Pye Ayida-Weddo Ayizan Azaka-Tonnerre Bacalou Badessy Baron Criminel Baron Samedi Belie Belcan Boli Shah Bossou Ashadeh Boum'ba Maza Bugid Y Aiba Captain Debas Clermeil Dan Petro Dan Wédo Diable Tonnere Diejuste Dinclinsin Erzulie Filomez Guede Guede-Double Guede L'Orage Guede-Linto Guede Nibo Gran Maître Joseph Danger Guinee Legba Mademoiselle Charlotte Mait' Carrefour (see: Kalfu) Maman Brigitte Marassa Marassa Jumeaux Marinette Maîtresse Délai Maîtresse Hounon'gon Mombu Mounanchou Shango Ogun Papa Legba Pie Simbi Sobo Sousson-Pannan Ti Jean Petro Ti Jean Quinto Ti Malice and Bouki
Practices Fetishism Gris-gris Veve Zangbeto
v t e

Dominican Vudú, or Dominican Voodoo (Spanish: Vudú Dominicano), popularly known as Las 21 Divisiones (The 21 Divisions), is a heavily Catholicized syncretic religion of African-Caribbean origin which developed in the former Spanish colony of Santo Domingo on the island of Hispaniola.

Since the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in the 16th-century, there were uprisings against the slave owners and Maroon villages were built (also known in other parts of the continent as quilombos or manieles).

But many other blacks continued under the system of colonial oppression. They were forbidden to express their religious beliefs, among other restrictions. The authority of the owner or boss of the plantation where the slaves were forced to work extended to their spirituality. The process of evangelization in the colonies would not allow them to freely express their beliefs and they were forced to observe Catholic customs. In the Counter-Reformation Church – in opposition to Lutheran ideas – the cult of saints and their images became fundamental in the ritual and indoctrination of Catholicism.^[1]

• Anaisa Pye, the Misterio or lwa of love and happiness. She is syncretized with St. Anne, mother of Mary. Her feast day is July 26.^[2]
• Belie Belcan, the Loa of justice and protection against demons. He is syncretized with St. Michael, the Archangel. His feast day is September 29.^[2]
• Candelo sé Difé, Loa of fire, also a warrior and protector spirit. Considered to be one of the Ogou, syncretized with St. Charles Borromeo. His feast day is November 4.^[2]
• Santa Marta Dominadora, or Filomena Lubana, the Loa responsible for dominion over men. She is syncretized with St. Martha. Her feast day is July 29.^[2]
• Ogun Balenyo, the Loa of warriors and soldiers. He is syncretized with Santiago (St. James). His feast day is July 25.^[2]
• Baron, the Loa of death. He is syncretized with San Elías (St. Elijah). His feast day is November 2.^[2]
• Metresili, the Loa of love, beauty, and wealth. She is syncretized with the Mater Dolorosa (Our Lady of Dolors).
• Santa Barbara Africana or Ezili Dantor, The main loa (or lwa) or senior spirit of the Petro family. She is syncretized with Black Madonna.

Dominican Vudú is practiced through a "Tcha-Tcha" (Maraca—which means "rattle") lineage.^[3] In Haiti, Voodoo has come about and become more popular through another lineage known as the "Asson". However, before the "Asson", the "Tcha-Tcha" lineage was the prominent lineage in Haiti. Thus the "Tcha-Tcha" lineage is one of the oldest lineages within the Voodoo tradition all over the island.^[3]

Dominican Vudú practitioners are often called Caballos ('Horses'), Brujos ('Witch doctors'), or Servidores ('Servants'), but they are also known as Papa Bokos and Papa Loa (priest); and Mama Mambos and Mama Loa (priestess). One who has obtained this title has gone through the last and highest level of initiation which can take anywhere between three and nine days and nights as well as have spent a time working for the community.^[3]

• Malas Vibras En Casa & Como Quitarlas (21 divisiones)