Each Vodun sect follows a different Loa ("mystery"), a tradition or path, sometimes a saint. The main god is Olorun, his enemy is Obatala. There are hundreds of lesser gods or spirits. The male Vodun priest are called houngan?, the female ones mambo.
The Voodoo cult is based on Vodun, but it is uncertain how much of the "dark magic" (including zombies and [voodoo doll]?s) is based on Christian propaganda during colonial times, on movies and stories, and how much of it is actually practiced by the "priests".