Wiktionary
n. A male voodoo priest in Haiti.
Wikipedia
Houngan is the term for a male priest in Haitian Vodou (a female priest is known as a mambo). The term is derived from the Fon word " Hounnongan. There are two ranks of houngan: houngan asogwe (high priest) and houngan sur pwen (junior priest). A houngan asogwe is the highest member of clergy in voodoo and the only one with authority to ordain other priests.
It is the houngan's role to preserve the rituals and songs and maintain the relationship between the spirits and the community as a whole (though some of this is the responsibility of the whole community as well). They are entrusted with leading the service of all of the spirits of their lineage. Sometimes they may also be bokor (sorcerers).
Usage examples of "houngan".
The bocors and the houngans knew that, always had a human sacrifice awaiting their dreaded lord.
Even he was nervous, a high priest whose powers were far greater than any of the black houngans or bocors, flinched at the prospect of summoning the Master himself.
If local houngans and mambos, male and female priests, had done their job, thousands of faithful would be in attendance.
It was an old story, a common one in Haiti, a beautiful girl lured into the clutches of the houngan, a white hen being fattened and pampered in readiness for the ultimate sacrifice.