http://www.religioustolerance.org/voodoo.htm
Vodun has been freely practiced in Benin since a democratic
government was installed there in 1989; about 60% of the population
follows this religion. Vodun was formally recognized as Benin's
official religion in 1996-FEB. It is also followed by most of the
adults in Haiti who are also nominally Roman Catholic. It can be
found in many of the large cities in North America, particularly in
the American South.
Vodun (a.k.a. Vodoun, Voudou,
Voodoo, Sevi Lwa) is commonly called
Voodoo (vû'dû) by the public. The name was derived from the god
Vodun of the West African Yoruba people who lived in 18th and 19th
century Dahomey. Its roots may go back 6,000 years in Africa. That
country occupied parts of today's Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Slaves
brought their religion with them when they were forcibly shipped to
Haiti and other islands in the West Indies.
Vodun was actively suppressed during colonial times.
"Many Priests were either killed or imprisoned, and their
shrines destroyed, because of the threat they posed to
Euro-Christian/Muslim dominion. This forced some of the Dahomeans
to form Vodou Orders and to create underground societies, in order
to continue the veneration of their ancestors, and the worship of
their powerful gods." 1
http://into-thedarkness.tripod.com/id5.html