The Loa (also Lwa or L'wha) are the spirits of the Vodou religion practiced in Haiti, and other parts of the world. vodoo, vodun, or vodoun may refer to any of West African vodun, a west African religion Haitian vodou, mostly derived Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: They are also referred to as the Mystères and the Invisibles. They are somewhat akin to saints or angels in Western religions in that they are intermediaries between Bondye (Bon Dieu, or good god)—the Creator, who is distant from the world—and humanity. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition Haitian Creole language ( kreyòl ayisyen) often called simply Creole or Kreyòl ( pronounced) is a language spoken in Haiti A creator deity is a Deity in a Creation myth responsible for the creation of the World (or Universe) Unlike saints or angels however, they are not simply prayed to, they are served. They are each distinct beings with their own personal likes and dislikes, distinct sacred rhythms, songs, dances, ritual symbols, and special modes of service. The musical instrument is spelled Cymbal. A symbol is something --- such as an object, Picture, written word a sound a piece Contrary to popular belief, the loa are not deities in and of themselves; they are intermediaries for a distant and uninterested Bondye.
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Syncretism
As a way to keep their European masters from interfering, and to appease the authorities who prevented them from practising their own religions, the African slaves in Haiti syncretised the Loa with the Roman Catholic saints - so Vodoun altars will frequently have images of Catholic figures displayed. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought For example, Papa Legba is alternately St. Peter or St. Lazarus, Ayizan is Saint Clare, and so on. In Haitian Vodou, Papa Legba is the intermediary between the loa and humanity Lazarus ( Hebrew: אלעזר Elʿāzār Eleazar "God (has helped" is the name of two separate men mentioned in the New Testament. In Vodou, and especially in Haiti, Ayizan (also Grande Ai-Zan, Aizan, or Ayizan Velekete) is the Loa of the marketplace Some of the Catholic saints may well have been syncretic creations themselves, when early Christians in North Africa came into contact with African loas, thus coming full circle.
Rituals
In a ritual the Loa are summoned by the Houngan (Priest) Bokor (Sorcerers) or Mambo (Priestess) to take part in the service, receive offerings, and grant requests. Houngan is the term for a male (as opposed to the mambo, or female High Priest in the Voodoo religion in Haiti. Bokor s in the religion of vodou are sorcerers or Houngan (priests for hire who are said to 'serve the Loa with both hands' meaning that they can practice Mambo is the term for a female (as opposed to the Houngan, or male High Priest in the Voodoo religion in Haiti. The Loa arrive in the peristyle (ritual space) by mounting (possessing) a horse (ritualist) - who is said to be "ridden. " This can be quite a violent occurrence as the participant can flail about or convulse before falling to the ground, but some Loa will mount their horses very quietly - Ayizan is one such Loa. As soon as a Loa is recognised the symbols appropriate to them will be given to them. For example Erzulie Freda will be given a mirror and a comb, fine cloth or jewellery; Legba will be given his cane, straw hat and pipe; Baron Samedi will be given his top hat, sunglasses and a cigar. In Vodou, Erzulie (sometimes spelled Ezili) is a family of lwa, or spirits In Vodou or voodoo, Baron Samedi ( Baron Saturday, also Baron Samdi Bawon Samedi or Bawon Sanmdi) is one of the aspects of Baron
Families of Loa
There are three main families or nations of Loa - Rada (also Radha), Petro (also Pethro, Petwo), and Ghede (Also Guede, or Gede). Rada is a major family of Loa in Haitian Vodou. They include older beneficent spirits who can be directly traced to Dahomey Vodous The Petwo (also Pethro, Petro loa) are a family of Loa (spirits in Haitian Voodoo mythology In Haitian Vodou, the Guédé (also spelled Gede or Ghede, gede in Haitian are the family of spirits that embody the powers of Death and
Rada loa
The Rada Loa are generally the older, more beneficent spirits. Rada is a major family of Loa in Haitian Vodou. They include older beneficent spirits who can be directly traced to Dahomey Vodous They include Legba, Loko, Ayizan, Dhamballah Wedo and Ayida-Weddo, Erzulie Freda, La Sirène, and Agoueh. In Haitian Vodou, Papa Legba is the intermediary between the loa and humanity In the Voodoo religion Loco (also spelled Loko is a Loa, patron of healers and Plants especially Trees He is a racine (root and a Rada Loa In Vodou, and especially in Haiti, Ayizan (also Grande Ai-Zan, Aizan, or Ayizan Velekete) is the Loa of the marketplace In Vodou, Damballa is one of the most important of all the Loa. In Vodou, especially in Benin and Haiti, Aida-Weddo (also Ayida-Wedo, Aido Quedo) is a Loa of fertility Rainbows In Vodou, Erzulie (sometimes spelled Ezili) is a family of lwa, or spirits Mami Wata is a pantheon of water Spirits or deities, venerated in West, Central, and Southern Africa Their traditional colour is white (as opposed to the specific colours of individual Loa). White is a Color, the perception which is evoked by Light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive Cone cells in the Human eye
Petro loa
The Petro Loa are generally the more fiery, occasionally aggressive and warlike Loa. The Petwo (also Pethro, Petro loa) are a family of Loa (spirits in Haitian Voodoo mythology They include Ezili Dantor, Marinette, Ogoun, and Kalfu (Carrefour). Ezili Dantor (also spelled Erzulie with Danto or Danthor) is the Petro nation aspect of the Erzulie family of lwa, or spirits Marinette is also a city in Wisconsin bordering Michigan A Marinette is also a slang word used for United States female Marines during For the Togolese prefecture see Ogou Togo. In Haitian Vodou and Yoruba mythology, Ogun (or Ogoun In Vodou, Kalfou or Carrefour (literally crossroads) is the darker owner of the crossroads represented by the space in between the lines Legba acts as Their traditional colour is red. Red is any of a number of similar Colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of Light discernible by the human eye in the wavelength
Ghede loa
The Ghede are the spirits of the dead. In Haitian Vodou, the Guédé (also spelled Gede or Ghede, gede in Haitian are the family of spirits that embody the powers of Death and They are traditionally led by the Barons (La Croix, Samedi, Cimitière, Kriminel), and Maman Brigitte. In Vodou, Baron La Croix (Baron of the Cross also spelled Lakwa, is one of the Guédé, a Loa of the dead and sexuality along with Baron In Vodou or voodoo, Baron Samedi ( Baron Saturday, also Baron Samdi Bawon Samedi or Bawon Sanmdi) is one of the aspects of Baron In Vodou, Baron Cimetière (Baron Cemetery is one of the Guédé, a spirit of the dead along with Baron Samedi and Baron La Croix. In Vodou, Maman Brigitte ( Grann Brigitte, Manman, Manman Brigit, Manman Brijit) is a death Loa, the wife of Baron The Ghede as a family are loud, rude (although rarely to the point of real insult), sexual, and usually a lot of fun. As those who have lived already, they have nothing to fear, and frequently will display how past consequence and feeling they are when they come through in a service - eating glass, raw chillis, and anointing their sensitive areas with chilli rum for example. Their traditional colours are black and purple. Black is the Color of objects that do not emit or Reflect Light in any part of the Visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of Purple is a general term for the range of shades of Color occurring between Red and Blue.
List of Loa
A selection of Loa follows:
See also
External links
In Vodou, Adjassou-Linguetor is a Loa with protruding eyes and a bad temper In Vodou, and especially in Haiti, Adjinakou is an Elephant Loa. In Vodou, Adya Hount'tò is a Loa associated with Drumming In the Vodou religion Agassou (also Ati-A-Sou) is a Loa, or deity who guards the old traditions of Dahomey. In Vodou, and especially in Haiti, Agwé, also spelt Agoueh, is a Loa who rules over the sea Fish and aquatic plants as well as In Vodou, especially in Benin and Haiti, Aida-Weddo (also Ayida-Wedo, Aido Quedo) is a Loa of fertility Rainbows In Vodou, and especially in Haiti, Ayizan (also Grande Ai-Zan, Aizan, or Ayizan Velekete) is the Loa of the marketplace In Vodou, and especially in Haiti, Azaka-Tonnerre (also Azaca or Azacca) is in the same "family" of Loa as Azaka Medeh - In Vodou, (the Voodoo Religion) Bacalou is a feared Loa (or spirit represented by a skull and crossbones In Vodou, and particularly in Haiti, Bedessy is a minor Loa who holds the domain of the sky In Vodou or voodoo, Baron Samedi ( Baron Saturday, also Baron Samdi Bawon Samedi or Bawon Sanmdi) is one of the aspects of Baron In Vodou, and especially Haitian Vodou, Boli Shah is a minor Loa who guards families In Vodou, and especially in Haiti, Boddou Ashadeh is a Loa, the spirit of the deceased Dahomean King Tegbésou. In Vodou, an animist or nature-based religion the Boum'ba Maza are a group of powerful spirits or deities known as Loa. In Vodou, and especially on Haiti and Puerto Rico, Bugid Y Aiba is a Loa of war In the religion of Vodou, Captain Debas (also Debard, Deebat) is a Loa (spirit In Haitian Vodou, Clermeil was the Loa who made Rivers flood their banks In the Voodoo faith Congo is a handsome but apathetic Loa. In the Congo Savanne aspect he is a fierce Petro loa. In Vodou, Damballa is one of the most important of all the Loa. In Vodou, Dan Petro is the Loa who protects farmers he is the father of Ti-Jean Petro. In Vodou, Dan Wédo (also called Saint Louis) was the Loa of the King of France. In Haitian Vodou, Diable Tonnere is a Loa ( Deity) who presides over Thunder. In Haitian Vodou, Diejuste is a kind-hearted Loa. In Haitian Vodou, Dinclinsin is a European Loa feared for his temper and cruelty he is often envisioned as a white colonial slave owner he often In Vodou, Erzulie (sometimes spelled Ezili) is a family of lwa, or spirits In Haitian Vodou, the Guédé (also spelled Gede or Ghede, gede in Haitian are the family of spirits that embody the powers of Death and In Haitian Vodou, Gran Maître (or Gran Met) is one of the primary creator goddesses In Haitian Vodou, Grand Bois (meaning great wood, also Grans Bwa, Bran Bwa, Ganga-Bois) is an elemental nature-oriented In Vodou, Guinee is the spirit world a reference to the African homeland that slaves hoped their souls might be returned to after death In Vodou, Kalfou or Carrefour (literally crossroads) is the darker owner of the crossroads represented by the space in between the lines Legba acts as The Lemba or Lembaa are an Ethnic group numbering 70000 in Southern Africa who claim a common descent and belonging to the Jewish people In Vodou, L'inglesou is a Loa who lives in the wild areas of Haiti and kills anyone who offends him In the Voodoo religion Loco (also spelled Loko is a Loa, patron of healers and Plants especially Trees He is a racine (root and a Rada Loa In Haitian Vodou, Mademoiselle Charlotte is a Loa of European descent and a symbol of all white women In Vodou, Kalfou or Carrefour (literally crossroads) is the darker owner of the crossroads represented by the space in between the lines Legba acts as In Vodou, Maîtresse Délai is the patron Loa of Tambourine players In Vodou, Maîtresse Hounon'gon is the Loa who presides over the chanting done during an ordeal by fire called a Canzo. In Vodou, Maman Brigitte ( Grann Brigitte, Manman, Manman Brigit, Manman Brijit) is a death Loa, the wife of Baron In Vodou the Marassa are the divine twins They are children but more ancient than any other loa In Vodou the Marassa are the divine twins They are children but more ancient than any other loa Marinette is also a city in Wisconsin bordering Michigan A Marinette is also a slang word used for United States female Marines during In Vodou, Mombu is a Loa who stutters and causes heavy rains In Vodou, an animist or nature-based religion Mounanchou is a group of powerful spirits or deities known as Loa worshipped in Haiti. For the Togolese prefecture see Ogou Togo. In Haitian Vodou and Yoruba mythology, Ogun (or Ogoun In Haitian Vodou, Papa Legba is the intermediary between the loa and humanity In the Voodoo faith Pie is a soldier- Loa who lives at the bottoms of lakes and rivers and causes floods In Haitian Vodou, Simbi (also Sim'bi) is a large and diverse family of serpent Loa (Vodoun Spirit) from the West Central Africa / Kongo In the Vodou (Voodoo religion Sousson-Pannan is a hideously ugly Loa, covered in sores who is known for drinking copious amounts of both liquor and In Vodou, Ti Jean Quinto is a cruel Loa who lives under bridges and assumes the shape of a police officer In Vodou folklore Ti Malice was a Trickster - Loa, archnemesis of Uncle Bouki. In Haitian Vodou, Ti-Jean Petro is a Snake - Loa and son of Dan Petro. Haitian Vodou (also known as Voodoo in the United States is a predominantly African derived belief systemDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic