it is different from the african traditional religions in the middle of these countries and is the main source of religions with similar names found among the african diaspora in the new world such as haitian "vodou"; puerto rican "vodú"; cuban "vodú"; dominican "vudú"; brazilian "vodum"; and louisiana "voodoo". all of these closely related faiths are syncretized with christianity to various degrees and with the traditional beliefs of the kongo people and indigenous american traditions.