In brief, there is a long history of Indian presence in West Africa. Hindu chromolithographs (mass produced color images) circulated, and local Vodun practitioners in countries such as Ghana, Benin/Togo,etc., perceived their own deities in these colorful images. For example, the Hindu deity Lakshmi was identified as Mami Wata. The same holds true with Shiva, Dattatreya, Ganesh and others. That is, the originally Hindu "images" were adopted and adapted into Vodun, and now are representing Vodun deities. If you want to learn more, see chapter 4 "'India,' Chromolithographs, and Vodun" in the new book: Vodun in Coastal Bénin.

Centered on the former slaving port of Ouidah, Benin, Dana Rush's research extends through Togo to Ghana, a region where exchanges of histories, ideas, and belief systems are given material forms. This is a land where the images of Shango, Jesus, and the Buddha all represent Gods of Vodun; where Hindu and Vodun deities co-exist in symbiosis; where the spirits of people enslaved 150 years ago are paid tribute by the children of their long-lost masters; and where Haitian, Brazilian, and Cuban images, artists, and spirits remain relevant to contemporary West African practices.
The book is richly illustrated with color photographs of Vodun shrines, temple wall paintings, masquerades, and Hindu chromolithographs.

This book is the first publication in a new series called "Critical Investigations of the African Diaspora." The series grows out of Issues in Critical Investigation, a Vanderbilt initiative to assist junior scholars through critical feedback from senior faculty, annual symposia, and prize competitions in the humanities and social sciences. Dana Rush's Vodun in Coastal Benin is the winner of the inaugural Anna Julia Cooper Prize in the Humanities.



for example, the image below is a chromolithograph image of the Hindu God Dattatreya. THis image is from Benin and is used to represent the Vodun God "Densu" . :

In my opinion, this proves the fluidity of Paganism.

THis has been going on in Ancient times and this is a modern example. The SPiritual Forces are the same. i.e., we all worship the same Gods.

It is just the mode of worship that differes from place to place, tribe to tribe.


no wonder Roman Gods were also worshipped in the Maghreb (North West Africa), and Persian Gods such as Mithra, had temples dedicated to them in London City.

I beg which time RCCG Will do there crusade dis time?

to be fair Rome did control north Africa

TerryCarr: to be fair Rome did control north Africa

doesn't matter. ROme never imposed her religion. Infact the ROmans took back the religion of the conquered with them. Such as Goddess Isis worship, Mithraism, etc.

And the Berbers didnt loste their original religion (worship of Agurzil,etc.) . They just added onto it.

PAGAN 9JA:


doesn't matter. ROme never imposed her religion. Infact the ROmans took back the religion of the conquered with them. Such as Goddess Isis worship, Mithraism, etc.

And the Berbers didnt loste their original religion (worship of Agurzil,etc.) . They just added onto it.

yes. I read that sometime ago. The romans never demonised the religions of their colonies, unlike these British

According to the Hindu gurus, Lord Raman was as dark as coal. Goddess Kali was also black originally.

macof: yes. I read that sometime ago. The romans never demonised the religions of their colonies, unlike these British

The Ancient Romans are a completely different people from the british and are extinct today.

ifeness: According to the Hindu gurus, Lord Raman was as dark as coal. Goddess Kali was also black originally.

You are talking about Lord Krishna.

The Sanskrit word in its origin language Kṛṣṇa is primarily an adjective meaning "Black" or "Dark", sometimes it is also translated as "all attractive".

yeahh Goddess Kali is black too.

macof: yes. I read that sometime ago. The romans never demonised the religions of their colonies, unlike these British

they were not christian..... yet

TerryCarr: they were not christian..... yet

oh yes after christianity, they went about forcing their new religion everywhere, destroying Shrines, Temples, Libraries, etc.

christianity is like mad-cow disease.

TerryCarr: they were not christian..... yet

my point exactly. Christianity promotes discrimination

SOme images depicting HIndu Gods in the backdrop.

Its very strange. .