In Search of Voodoo Film Difficulty Ranking: 1
Why Watch In Search of Voodoo?
- For an introduction to Voodoo culture
- If you like to learn about world cultures
- To see the effect of colonialism on local culture
From: Benin, Africa Watch: Trailer, JustWatch, Hoopla, Kanopy, Tubi, Amazon Prime Next: Batuque, Golden Fish, African Fish, N!ai
Introduction to Voodoo Culture
If you’re looking for an introduction to Voodoo from one of Benin’s most recognized actors, look no further. Djimon Hounsou directs and leads this educational film directed at anyone who doesn’t know anything about Voodoo. Or more specifically, a white western audience which has been taught to think of pins and dolls when thinking about Voodoo culture by Hollywood. In Search of Voodoo and Hounsou seek to dispel these sensational depictions of a Beninese culture through its informative look at Voodoo. You’ll see a few of the ceremonies, hear from a few of the Voodoo adepts, and hear the origin stories, all narrated in English.
Educational Style
In Search of Voodoo’s deep voiced narration, animations, and talking head interviews reminded me of the style of the educational videos shown at school. It’s easy to follow and informative. It also follows a similar revelatory process to keep the viewer engaged. By first setting up our assumptions – that Voodoo = dolls with pins used for revenge – the film opens up a space to then criticize those assumptions and offer us a look at the real Voodoo. Perhaps it uses the educational school video format to try and get it into religious studies classrooms and colonialism classes in schools in the west.
A Cultural RelativIst Argument
Does it get it’s point across though? It was amazing to see the voodoo ceremonies and shrines for the first time to learn how complete Voodoo culture is. However, I’m not sure the calls to view Voodoo through a cultural relativist lens works for a lot of the white audience it is aimed at. For example, both the conservative Christians and secular population of the U.S. would likely still view the Voodoo blood sacrifices and ceremonies shown in the film as violent and unnecessary, even through an awareness of the packaged violence in their own meat industry.
The attempts to cater to the Western audience in it’s style and its comparisons of Voodoo to other religions only serves to other Voodoo culture as well. It’s a culture so different and unique from Western culture that the comparisons to Christianity and Islam don’t really work. However, it does at least present Voodoo from a Voodoo perspective. Whilst it could go further by presenting Voodoo without regard for a western audience, it processes how Hollywood has damaged the culture, as a form of modern day colonialism, and recaptures it’s portrayal.
What to Watch Next
If you’re looking for more eye opening documentaries of African culture, check out the music in Batuque and Felicite. You could also check out a more ethnographic documentaries such as N!ai from Botswana or Golden Fish, African Fish from Senegal.
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