A living reference atlas

Atlas of Religious and Esoteric Lineages

Five thousand religious, mystical, Indigenous and esoteric lineages from around the world — what they are, where they came from, and where to read more.

Source-linked and transparently qualified. Editorial standards and correction criteria are public.

Created and maintained by Ayara and Kyle Jonathan B@KJB_and_AYARA

Entries: 5,000
Candidate geography relations: 7,326
Candidate country vocabulary: 162

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Search five thousand distinct lineages

Entry data: effective Atlas view
Geography: candidate layer pending adjudication

10 lineages in the selected candidate country

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Atlas 0150Community-bound / restricted

Egúngún ancestral masquerade tradition

African & Afro-Diasporic Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Benin, Nigeria
Period / origin: Precolonial origins; living
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesBenin, Nigeria

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Atlas 0651Community-bound / restricted

Zangbeto Guardian Society and Masquerade

African & Afro-Diasporic Order / organization

Public geography: Benin, Togo
Period / origin: Precolonial–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesBenin, Togo

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Atlas 0921Community-bound / restricted

Tchamba spirit-veneration traditions

African & Afro-Diasporic Religious tradition

Public geography: Benin, Togo
Period / origin: Developed in the Atlantic-slavery era; living
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesBenin, Togo

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Atlas 0922Varies by lineage

Gorovodu shrine and possession traditions

African & Afro-Diasporic Religious tradition

Public geography: Benin, Ghana, Togo
Period / origin: Twentieth century to present, with older ritual sources
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesBenin, Ghana, Togo

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Atlas 0923Initiatory

Ewe Yewe thunder-cult traditions

African & Afro-Diasporic Religious tradition

Public geography: Benin, Ghana, Togo
Period / origin: Precolonial roots; living
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesBenin, Ghana, Togo

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Atlas 1398Initiatory

Ewe Afa divination tradition

African & Afro-Diasporic Lineage / school

Public geography: Benin, Ghana, Togo
Period / origin: Historically documented; living
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesBenin, Ghana, Togo

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Atlas 1401Community-bound / restricted

Fon Tohosu water-spirit traditions

African & Afro-Diasporic Religious tradition

Public geography: Benin
Period / origin: Historically documented, including royal Dahomey contexts; living forms vary
Evidence status: Related-entry source

Candidate countriesBenin

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Atlas 2371Institution-specific

Celestial Church of Christ

African & Afro-Diasporic Order / organization

Public geography: Benin, Nigeria
Period / origin: Documented modern institution; current status should be checked with the institution
Evidence status: Related-entry source

Candidate countriesBenin, Nigeria

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Atlas 2884Community-bound / restricted

Koutammakou ritual landscape

African & Afro-Diasporic Sacred site / complex

Public geography: Benin, Togo
Period / origin: Historic–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesBenin, Togo

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Atlas 4845Community-bound / restricted

Vodun Days of Ouidah

African & Afro-Diasporic Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Benin
Period / origin: 1990s–present
Evidence status: Related-entry source

Candidate countriesBenin

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