Legba
Opens spiritual doors
Legba is a spirit in Vodou traditions, serving as the intermediary between humans and the divine.
He guards crossroads and doorways, and rituals typically begin by invoking him to open communication with other spirits.
In Haitian Vodou he appears as Papa Legba, often depicted as an old man with a cane.
The figure derives from West African religious traditions brought to the Caribbean.
Vodou divine spirit
- VodouHaitian spirit-centered religion
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- gatekeeperOne controlling entry
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
Bondye · spirits · Haitian · orisha · divine · messenger · trickster · communication
Formal observances with ritual
- offeringsThings presented or given
- rumMolasses-based liquor
- tobaccoDried smoking leaf
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
altar · symbols · invocation · drums · possession · priest · mambo · petitions
Stick for support
Point of beginning
- gatewayPoint of access
- liminalityTransitional ambiguity between phases
- choicesAvailable options to pick
- pathsCourses for travel
decisions · transitions · doorways · intersections · boundaries · passage · journeys · travelers
loa
Vodou divine spirit
- VodouHaitian spirit-centered religion
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- gatekeeperOne controlling entry
intermediary · Bondye · spirits · Haitian · orisha · divine · messenger · trickster · communication · prayers
ceremonies
Formal observances with ritual
crossroads · altar · symbols · invocation · drums · possession · priest · mambo · petitions · opening
cane
Stick for support
pipe · keys · crutch · red · black · rooster · palm · staff · sun · moon
threshold
Point of beginning
- gatewayPoint of access
- liminalityTransitional ambiguity between phases
- choicesAvailable options to pick
paths · decisions · transitions · doorways · intersections · boundaries · passage · journeys · travelers · direction
Vodou
Haitian spirit-centered religion
- SanteriaSyncretic Cuban Yoruba-Catholic religion
- syncretismFusion of different beliefs
- CaribbeanTropical Atlantic region
Louisiana · African · Yoruba · Dahomey · Benin · Brazil · Cuba · creole · hoodoo · traditions
- African MythologyAnansi, ancestor spirits, sky gods, thunder gods, river spirits
- Tricksterstrickster, mischief-maker, Loki, rascal, Anansi
- African religionsVodou, Santeria, orishas, ancestor spirits, loa
- Fon culturevodun, Dahomey, royal palaces
- Orishasriver goddess, sea goddess, thunder god, sky gods
- Threshold GodsJanus, Hecate, Heimdall