Gris-gris, Mojo bag and Borfima
A gris-gris or gris-gris bag is a protective amulet that brings good luck and chases demons away. The word gris-gris – of African origin – means “fetish” or “charm”; thus a gris-gris bag is...
Category: Voodoo
Animism, magic and the spiritual sterilization-effect of the one God-enforcement
What is animism? Is it something African or something we find only among indeginous peoples? What are the side effects of politicized monotheism on our personal exerience and communication with the spiritual or the...
Doctor John (Jean Montenee, Jean Montanet) – the original New Orleans Voodoo King
Doctor John (Senegal 1803 – New Orleans 1885) was a legendary Voodoo King in New Orleans. He was known by many other names, such as Prince John, Jean Montaigne, Jean Montenee or Jean Montanet,...
The Seven Nanchons or loa-families in Vodou
There are several families or “nanchons” (from “nations”) of loa or vodou spirits. These nanchons are: Rada (also Radha), Petro (also Pethro, Petwo), Nago, Kongo, Djouba, Ibo and Ghede (also Guede, or Gede). Most...
19th Century New Orleans Superstitions
This article is based on extracts from a historically interesting article on New Orleans Vodou beliefs, published by Lafcadio Hearn in the Harper’s weekly of December 25th, 1886 and republished in An American miscellany,...
Magische oliën uit de Hoodoo-traditie
Magische oliën, rituele oliën en zalvende oliën, zijn al heel lang een onderdeel van de Hoodoo-rootwork praktijk. Hoodoo is een vorm van magie die oorspronkelijk uit West-Afrika stamt en die zich via de Trans-Atlantische...
Pomba Gira or Pombajira and Exu
A Pomba gira is a spiritual entity within Umbanda, Candomblé, Macumba and Quimbanda, which manifests itself incorporated in a medium. It is the messenger between the world of the orixás and the earth. ...
Datura stramonium or jimson weed or zombi-cucumber
Datura stramonium is a magical plant known by many names. In Portugese its called trombeta, trombeteira, estramónio, estramônio, Figueira do demo, figueira do diabo, figueira do inferno, figueira brava and zabumba, estramónio in Spanish...
Black Magic Woman Azizaa
Is Ghana too influenced by Western religion? Ghanaian singer Azizaa and Wanlov the Kubulor of the rap outfit FOKN Bois would argue that it most certainly is. They tackle this “religion issue” in the...
