The African Diaspora traditions are challenging to study from outside. Less has been written about them than most religions, because folks don't care to talk with outsiders much and prefer oral tradition internally. But there is some good stuff, and with some of it online now that makes it a little easier to find.
One thing that will probably fascinate you: some of the lwa or orishas are downright notorious for mounting nosy white people who show up to study or gawk and don't really believe. Like mount the camera man, run him up a tree, then dismount and leave him there. Sometimes it makes a lot of extra work for the houngans, trying to talk the lwa out of the more far-out pranks. Ghede and Legba have both been mentioned doing this. Sometimes they do weird shit to members too, but people know how to handle that better. Some other lwa are much fussier and will only mount their own devotees.
Another interesting feature: Most of the lwa / orishas are actually systems with dozens of individuals packed together, each with their own subspecialty and quirks within the general sphere of influence. Worship while alive aligns a person with a particular "head" whose work they do. Those with exceptional achievements may become known for returning after death to continue that work by helping their descendants or other worshippers. I've seen guides that listed dozens of versions of a lwa, but I would bet it's more like hundreds at the very least. Many are local and just don't get written down. In fact in those traditions, every Voudoun or whatever cemetery has its own Ghede and Brigitte (or other titles meaning similar things) from the first man and first woman buried there.
Re: Yes ...
The African Diaspora traditions are challenging to study from outside. Less has been written about them than most religions, because folks don't care to talk with outsiders much and prefer oral tradition internally. But there is some good stuff, and with some of it online now that makes it a little easier to find.
One thing that will probably fascinate you: some of the lwa or orishas are downright notorious for mounting nosy white people who show up to study or gawk and don't really believe. Like mount the camera man, run him up a tree, then dismount and leave him there. Sometimes it makes a lot of extra work for the houngans, trying to talk the lwa out of the more far-out pranks. Ghede and Legba have both been mentioned doing this. Sometimes they do weird shit to members too, but people know how to handle that better. Some other lwa are much fussier and will only mount their own devotees.
Another interesting feature: Most of the lwa / orishas are actually systems with dozens of individuals packed together, each with their own subspecialty and quirks within the general sphere of influence. Worship while alive aligns a person with a particular "head" whose work they do. Those with exceptional achievements may become known for returning after death to continue that work by helping their descendants or other worshippers. I've seen guides that listed dozens of versions of a lwa, but I would bet it's more like hundreds at the very least. Many are local and just don't get written down. In fact in those traditions, every Voudoun or whatever cemetery has its own Ghede and Brigitte (or other titles meaning similar things) from the first man and first woman buried there.