Famous Vodou Personalities And Practitioners

Marie Laveau (1794–1881), a legendary practitioner buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, was the most famous Vodou queen. She was a fervent Catholic who went to St. Louis Cathedral for Mass. She encouraged others to do the same. She lived on St. Ann Street in the French Quarter, where numerous people stopped to ask for her assistance at all hours of the day and night.

During the yellow fever pandemic, she was a free lady of color who adopted children, fed the hungry, and cared for the sick. She had a reputation for assisting enslaved servants and their escapees. Politicians, attorneys, and business leaders are believed to have sought her advice before making financial or business decisions.

Her residence was decorated with candles, saint statues, shrines, and other objects to ward off spirits. Nickels, paper flowers, and other donations can still be found on her tomb today. Stay in the Marie Laveau Annex of the Inn on St. Ann, the Creole Cottage she truly owned.

Dr. John, often known as Bayou John, was perhaps one of New Orleans' most famous voodoo monarchs. He was born in Senegal and was taken as a slave and brought to Cuba. He subsequently moved to New Orleans as a cotton roller and became involved in the local voodoo community. He bought land on Bayou Road and became regarded as an excellent Vodou healer and fortune teller. Marie Laveau had him as a teacher.