Hoodoo

Hoodoo, also known as conjure or root work, is a traditional African American folk spirituality and system of magic developed in the Southern United States. It is not a codified religion; rather, a flexible set of beliefs and practices that blends African diasporic spiritual ideas with Indigenous American and European folk elements.

Hoodoo originated among enslaved Africans and their descendants in the Southeast, drawing on African religious concepts from groups such as the Akan, Igbo, Fon, and Kongo, along with Indigenous herbal knowledge and European magical and Christian motifs. Practices were transmitted orally within families and communities and adapted to local environments.

The practice aims to influence everyday outcomes such as protection, love, luck, healing, and justice. Core techniques include herbal remedies and rootwork, talismans or mojo bags, bottle spells, candles, powders, oils, and gris-gris. Divination and ancestral reverence appear in many lines, though emphasis remains pragmatic and individualized.

Hoodoo is distinct from Voodoo (Vodou), the organized religion with a formal pantheon and priesthood. While Hoodoo may honor ancestors or spirits, its emphasis is on practical magic and personal empowerment rather than a church-based liturgy.

In contemporary times Hoodoo persists in diverse communities and has a presence in folklore, literature, and popular culture, sometimes with sensationalized depictions. Practitioners emphasize ethical sourcing, respect for the lineage, regional variation, and the sharing of knowledge within communities.