Does the religion have a centralized organization in Haiti?
Like a diocese perhaps? No, not at all. As we say in Haiti, “Chak houngan, houngan lakay li” (literally, “Each Houngan [no less Manbo] is in his own house”). Vodou tradition is not monolithic. Differences in liturgy & other details do occur from house to house, & this is very apparent as one moves in Haiti from North to South. For example, one of the strongholds of Vodou tradition is the Cul-de-Sac Plaine/Artibonite Valley, the central area of Haiti that runs from Port-au-Prince North as far as Gonaives. Some traditional knowledge & liturgy appears to have been lost in the South & South-West of Haiti, & some lineage are quite watered down by comparison. Likewise, the religion is all together different in the North, & there are very historical reasons for this. However in every instance, there are elements which define what is, or isn’t Vodou, & these are consistent throughout the country. Does Vodou believe in the doctrine of reincarnation? Yes & no. Vodou does NOT postulate a doctrine
