Voodoo

Legba: Also known as Atibon-Legba. The interpreter and spokesman of the Gods. The guardian of the gate between the Gods and men. He is also considered the guardian of all gates, boundaries and crossroads. He is sometimes known as the ‘Master of the Crossroads’. He is sometimes represented as a weak, poorly dressed old man, puffing on a pipe and supporting himself with a crutch.

A song to Legba:

Atibon-Legba, remove the barrio for me…

Papa Legba remove the barrio

So I may pass through.

When I come back I will salute the Loa.

Voodoo Legba, remove the barrio for me

So that I may come back.

When I come back I will thank the loa.

Loco: The God of vegetation. He is often worshipped in the form of a tree. He gives the knowledge of the secret property of herbs and is therefore also the God of healing. He was responsible for the existence of Nibo, the God of death.

Ogu: the God of blacksmiths and war. Those possessed by him put on old military uniforms. He is extremely fond of women.

A song honoring Ogu:

Ogu works, he does not eat.

He puts money on one side

In order to sleep with a pretty girl.

Yesterday evening Feraille went to bed without supper.

Ogu works.

Ogu does not eat.

He has bought a dress to give to his girl.

Yesterday Ogu went to bed without supper.

Ogu-badagri: The son of Ogu.

Nibo: The God of death. A foundling and the foster son of Ogu. A member of the Guede, who are sometimes represented as undertaker’s men, in full mourning, wearing black top-hats, frock coats and dark glasses. Also a God of obscenity and licentiousness.

Baron Saturday: A member of the Guede, who are sometimes represented as undertaker’s men, in full mourning, wearing black top-hats, frock coats and dark glasses. Also a God of obscenity and licentiousness.

Baron Cemetary: A member of the Guede, who are sometimes represented as undertaker’s men, in full mourning, wearing black top-hats, frock coats and dark glasses. Also a God of obscenity and licentiousness.

Baron Cross: A member of the Guede, who are sometimes represented as undertaker’s men, in full mourning, wearing black top-hats, frock coats and dark glasses. Also a God of obscenity and licentiousness.

Maman Brigitte: A member of the Guede who are sometimes represented as undertaker’s men, in full mourning, wearing black top-hats, frock coats and dark glasses. Also a God of obscenity and licentiousness.

Guede: The family of death spirits. Gods of death. There are about thirty in number. Sometimes they dress up as corpses, stuffing their mouths with cotton, tying up their chins with linen bandages and giving voice to death rattles. They frequently show up around the time of the Festival of All Souls, the feast of the dead. Sometimes they strap imitation penises to their loins and either pretend to rape women worshippers or dance the banda. Those who are possessed by one of them almost always converse obscenely. They tell dirty jokes, sing dirty songs and mispronounce common words to give them a sexual connotation.

Banda: Probably the world’s most flagrantly sexual dance.

Loa: Gods and spirits.

Baron Samadhi: A member of the Guede, who are sometimes represented as undertaker’s men, in full mourning, wearing black top-hats, frock coats and dark glasses. Also a God of obscenity and licentiousness.

Maman Brigitte: A member of the Guede, who are sometimes represented as undertaker’s men, in full mourning, wearing black top-hats, frock coats and dark glasses. Also a God of obscenity and licentiousness.

Zaka: The peaceful peasant God of agriculture. He dresses as a typical Haitian peasant, in a straw hat and denims, smoking a pipe and carrying a machete.

A song to Zaka:

Cousin Zaka, you are in a rage,

O devil.

You are in a rage,

O devil.

You want to leave a good woman

And go live with vagabonds.

Cousin Zaka, you are in a rage,

O devil.

Shango: A storm God of African origin. He has been replaced by St. John the Baptist in the north. Probably because storms are especially prevalent around St. John’s day.

St. John the Baptist: An irresponsible & especially violent storm God.

Erzulie: The Goddess of Love. Sometimes identified with the Virgin Mary. She was originally a member of a family of sea-spirits. She is now almost exclusively the Goddess of romantic love. Her connection with the ocean has now been almost completely forgotten. She often behaves in an exaggeratedly feminine manner. She rejects the advances of Nibo because she is half-caste and light of skin, and he is very black.

Song to Erzulie:

Ah! The beautiful woman

Who is Erzulie!

Who is Erzulie!

Oh, I will give you a present

Before you go away. Abobo!

Damballah: A serpent loa who lives in trees. A lover of Erzulie. Damballah’s color is white and his worshippers are offered white things to eat and drink. Silver is sacred to him. Those who find favor with him discover hidden treasures or become rich some other way.

Agwe: The sea God. The ocean, fish, seaweed, boats, ships and all things found in or on oceans are sacred to him. He is represented by pictures of cargo boats and heavily armed war ships. He is half-caste, has green eyes and dresses as a naval officer. He is the patron God of fishermen and all who earn their living from the sea.

Song to Agwe:

Master Agwe, where are you?

Don’t you see I’m on a reef?

Master Agwe, where are you?

Don’t you see I’m on a reef?

Don’t you see I’m on the sea?

I’ve a rudder in my hand,

I can’t go back.

I’m already going forwards,

I can’t turn back.

Agwe, where are you?

Can’t you see I’m on a reef?

Da: The force of life.