Voodoo is a magical tradition practiced mainly in the Caribbean and southern United States. Voodoo is a unique combination of Catholicism and African tribal religions, and is almost an exclusive feature of former slave-holding areas. Similar traditions may be practiced in Africa.

I always thought that voodoo would be a good thing to introduce into Call of Cthulhu as a non-Mythos magic system. In doing this conversion, I drew heavily on the various systems for voodoo's use in Shadowrun. And for the glossary below, I've drawn rather heavily on some of Robert E. Howard's stuff.

For ideas on how to use voodoo in a campaign, I reccomend picking up some of the above-cited Howard material, especially the collection Trails in the Darkness, which is an anthology of Howard's somewhat Cthulhuvian stories set in the Deep South. Also reccomended is the Howard story "Pigeons from Hell," in Cthulhu: The Mythos and Kindred Horrors.

Ange: A good spirit.
Asson: A rattle used in contacting the Loa.
Baka: An evil spirit.
Bocor: An evil sorcerer, a follower of Petro. Male or female.
Bruja: A female practitioner of Brujeria.
Brujeria: A voodoo-like tradition practiced in Mexico.
Brujo: A male practitioner of Brujeria.
Canari: A clay jar used to capture souls.
Candomble: A tradition practiced in Portuguese areas.
Casa: The Santeria equivalent of an honfour.
Cheval: A person possessed by a Loa.
Connaissance: A path of healing magic. Opposed to Petro.
Corps-de-Fer: A powerful form of undead powered by Petro.
Engagement: A contract between a mortal and a Loa.
Fort: Used as a descriptor of a person who is magically strong.
Garde: A charm or enchantment.
Goat Without Horns: Another name for Petro.
Gris-Gris: A spell.
Gros Bon Ange: A person�s spirit double.
Guinee: The Land Under the Sea where the Loa dwell.
Honfour: A sacred area for voodoo priests.
Houngan: A priest of Connaissance.
Hounenikon: A high-ranking member of a societe.
Hounsi: Assisstants to a houngan.
Installe: The act of possession by a Loa.
La-place: The apprentice houngan.
Loa: The deities of voodoo.
Loa Achete: A spirit serving the houngan.
Loa Travail: A spirit serving the houngan.
Macumba: General term for both Candomble and Quinbanda.
Mait Tete: The Loa to which a houngan is sworn.
Mambo: A voodoo priestess.
Mange-moun: A problem or illness sent by a demon.
Mauvais Esprit: An evil spirit created through Petro.
Mazanxa: A Petro societe.
Nom-valiant: The houngan or mambo�s ritual name.
Orisha: A spirit in Santeria; functionally identical to Loa.
Petro: The evil twin of Connaissance, a dark and destructive path.
Quinbanda: A tradition practiced in Portuguese areas.
Santera: A female practitioner of Santeria.
Santeria: A tradition practiced in Spanish areas.
Santero: A male practitioner of Santeria.
Societe: A community of houngans.
Tonnelle: An outdoor honfour.
Veve: A symbol used to represent a specific Loa.
Vlinblindingue: A Petro societe.
Voodoo: A magical tradition practiced in French areas.
Zobop: A Petro societe.
Zombi: A living corpse animated by a houngan.
Zuvembi: A female Zombi.

Mait Tete

Every practitioner of voodoo, Santeria, or Macumba be they houngan, mambo, or bocor, must choose a Mait Tete. The Mait Tete is a Loa that is especially revered, although the wise voodoo priest reveres them all. During the casting of any voodoo spell, the Veve or holy symbol of the Mait Tete must be inscribed on the ground before magic points are spent. What the Veve is drawn in depends on the sect--in chalk if the practitioner is Connaissance, or chicken's blood if they are Petro.