African Traditional Religions and Afro-magick Twenty Years Post- Henge
Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft December 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1353/mrw.2025.a985964
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractOver the past two decades, the online presence of African Traditional Religions (ATRs) and Afro-Magick has grown and shifted significantly since Douglas E. Cowan's 2005 book Cyberhenge. Drawing on decades of personal practice and study of Vodou in Haiti and Benin and Voodoo in New Orleans, the author—an engaged priestess, teacher, and community member—analyzes key innovations and catastrophes affecting these traditions. The piece offers an insider perspective on how digital spaces have transformed the practice, representation, and community dynamics of these religions, highlighting both opportunities and challenges that have emerged in the internet age.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The online world of African Traditional Religions and Afro-Magick has expanded and changed considerably since the early 2000s, with both innovations and catastrophes affecting Vodou and Voodoo communities. |
Abstract
Abstract: The online world of African Traditional Religions (ATRs) and Afro-Magick has expanded and undergone numerous changes in the twenty years since Douglas E. Cowan first published the groundbreaking work Cyberhenge . I began both my study and practice of the African Traditional Religions of Vodou and Voodoo in the early 1990s, while I also embraced the magic of cyberspace from the very beginning. In the decades since I have seen many innovations and catastrophes related to the religions of Vodou in Haiti and Benin and Voodoo in New Orleans, some of which I analyze in this Forum contribution, coming from my perspective as an engaged Priestess, teacher, and community member.