Manigua Writings
The Crossroads: Legba & Ghede
The Loa of Vodun

Haiti is a nation rich in African culture that's adapted the different spiritual beliefs of ancestors to their reality in the New World. Most of their ancestors came from the African states of Dahomey, Yoruba, Ashanti, Mandingo, and Congo; they included the Arada, Ibo, Nago, Mayombes, Mines, Fons, and many other tribes. Though they each had their own pantheon of deities and particular belief system, in Haiti they found and understood the similarities. As they expanded their knowledge of the spirit world, their practices evolved into the sacred system of Vodun. This spiritual discipline is composed of two major elements: Rada and Petro.

Rada is assosiated with the beliefs of the Yoruba and Dahomey and their divinities are considered more benevolent than the Petro; they are considered guardians of the morals and principles of the mother land.Petro divinities are considered to be more agressive, and though some are from the Congo pantheon, it is assosiated with the traditions established in the New World. The drumming at Rada ceremonies is mostly played in "even" time (4/4, 6/8, etc.,), while the drums in Petro play "odd" times (5/4,7/4, etc.,) and off beat; there is a sort of tension present at Petro ceremonies.

Africans absorbed some of the beliefs and practices of the native indians; they found common elements between them, and knew the natives understood the spirits of this new land.Azaccas' name, a fertility and agrarian loa, is derived from the indian maize culture; the loa are placed in sacred stones as the natives did with the Caribbean Zemi; some of the native vever (symbolic designs used in ceremonies) are used in Vodun ceremonies, and the sacred langage of Vodun contains Indian words. The key to the relationship between the Caribbean natives and the African slaves was the polytheistic nature of their religous beleifs, which made them tolerant to each other's ways. The Indian Zemi "connotes both the spirit of the dead, the soulless living and the fetish stone by which magic is accomplished." The word "zombie" comes from the Indian Zemi; so do the loa Simbi, patron of the rains, and Baron Samedi, Lord of the Cemetery and the Crossroads.

Legba is a Rada loa that came from Dahomey; he is God of the Crossroads, and the connection between the universe and its divine origin. He is the first one saluted at all Loa ceremonies, and is considered to be the principle of life; the initial procreative whole. He is identified with the sun and the birth of life; the center post in all hounfor (Vodun temples) are called poteu Legba. Through this post the Loa enter the ceremonies, and it's also where there food is placed. Dancing, drumming, posession, and all the activities of ceremony revolve around the poteu Legba. He is said to be very wise, and only he knows the sacred language of Mawu-Lisa, the highest god in Vodun. All prayers and sacrifice must go through Legba, and only he can open the sacred gateway.

Some his paths or avatar are: Attibon Legba who is an old man that walks with atwisted cane, smokes a pipe, wears a straw hat, and carries a macoutte (straw sack); Legba Avradra is said to be a wandering vagabond; Sousou Panman who is old with sores on his body and distributes punishment; and Grand Bois who is master of the island below the waters and its submerged forests. There are some paths also known in Haiti as Legba Ibo, Agao Loco, Baye, and Legba Congo.

The following is one of the songs which begin a ceremony, asking Legba to open the path:

Attibon Legba ouvri baye pou' moin ago!
Ou we Attibon Legba ouvri baye pou' moin ouvti baye!
M'ape rentre quand ma tourne,
Ma salut Loa yo!
Attibon Legba open the gate for me, I ask you please!
You see, Attibon Legba, open the gate for me,
open the gate!
I will enter when I return,
I salute the Loa!

Another song that sometimes follows the above is:

Legba nan baye-a
Legba nan baye-a
Legba nan baye-a
Se ou ki pote drapo
Se ou k ap pare soley pou Loa yo

Legba is at the gate (x3)
It is you who carries the flag
It is you who shields the Loa from the sun

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