Candomblé Jejé, also known as Brazilian Vodum, is one of the major branches (''nations'') of

Candomblé Candomblé () is an African diasporic religion that developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between several of the traditional religions of West Africa, especially that of the Yoruba, and the Roman ...

. It developed in the

Portuguese Empire The Portuguese Empire ( pt, Império Português), also known as the Portuguese Overseas (''Ultramar Português'') or the Portuguese Colonial Empire (''Império Colonial Português''), was composed of the overseas colonies, factories, and the l ...

among Fon and Ewe slaves.

Vodums

Jejé spirits are called ''Voduns'' (sing. ''Vodum''). According to tradition, they were introduced into the

Kingdom of Dahomey The Kingdom of Dahomey () was a West African kingdom located within present-day Benin that existed from approximately 1600 until 1904. Dahomey developed on the Abomey Plateau amongst the Fon people in the early 17th century and became a region ...

from nearby lands by its founder King Adja-Tado, on the advice of a ''bokono'' (seer). Their cult was reorganized and uniformized by King Agajah in the 18th century. Jejé Vodums are sometimes cultuated in houses of other nations by different names. For instance, the Vodum Dan or Bessen is called Oxumarê in Candomblé Ketu. Conversely, the Ketu Orixás may be cultuated in Jejé houses, but retain their names. Voduns are organized into families:

Vodums

Bibliography

See also