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 used are the main divisions of the Rada and the Petro nanchons. While these seven nanchons all have their distinct attributes, in a more general way the nanchons are divided into these two branches, each of which takes its name from one of the nanchons within it.

 

 

While there is no consensus on this point, it can generally be argued that the Rada branch includes the nanchons Rada, Nago and Djouba, and the Petwo branch includes the nanchons Petwo, Kongo, Ibo and Gède. Some people place Djouba under the Petwo Branch, and some others consider the Kongo branch its own entity. Another classification is in Rada, Petro and Ghede nanchons.

RADA	PETRO	RADA & PETRO	GHEDE
Adjasou Agassou Ayida Ayizan Brise Damballah Erzuli Freda Filomez Gran Bwa Legba Loco Simbi Andezo (in sweet water) Sobo Kessuo	Agau Bakulu Bade Bosou Koblamin Cong Congo Savanne Erzuli Danto Erzuli Jan Petro Gran Simba Ibo Lele Jean Petro Kalfu Krabinay Linglessu Marinette Simbi Andezo (in sea water) Soybo Taureau trois graines Ti-Jean Petro	Agwe Marasa Obatala Ogoun Simbi Andezo	Azacca Baron Samedi Linto Maman Brigitte

 

1. Rada loa

The loa of this nanchon are strong, but benevolent, balanced in their treatment of their servants. These are the most revered spirits, and many Vodou rituals begin with adulations for them. The Rada loa are generally old loa, as many of these spirits come from Africa and originate from the religion of the Fon people of Dahomey (present day Benin). The Rada Loa are mainly water spirits and many of the Rada loa are served with a water. The Rada are “Cool” in the sense they are less aggressive than the Petro loa. Rada loas, however, are often considered to also have Petro aspects—which are harsher and more aggressive than their Rada counterparts. Some sources describe these different personalities as aspects, while others depict them as separate beings. Yet in general Rada loas are benevolent and creative and associated with the color white. That is, many of these spirits are served with white (as opposed to the specific colours of individual loa). Rada stands for light and the normal affairs of humanity. The Rada drumming and dancing is on beat whereas the Petro is offbeat. Rhythm and dance styles played for the Rada nanchon include: Yanvalou, Parigol, Zepol, Mahi, Fla Voudou and Daomé.

A voodoo priest who invokes the rada-loa is called a houngan. The temples where the Rada-Loa are worshipped are called hounfours. A priestess is called Mambo regardless of the type of loa invoked. Several Rada-Loa are commemorated annually at the Sodo (Saut-d’Eau) pilgrimage site.

 

 

Important loa in the Rada Nanchon are:

• Papa Legba Atibon – He is imaged as an old man, St. Lazarus is used to represent him in the hounfo or temple. He opens the gate to the spirits, and translates between human languages and the languages of the spirits.
• Marasa Dosu Dosa – They are twin children, either in twos or threes. Imaged with Sts. Cosmas and Damien, or the Three Virtues. (Sometimes classified as Petro.)
• Papa Loko Atisou and Manbo Ayizan Velekete – The prototypical priest and priestess of the tradition. They confer the office of priesthood in initiation.
• Danbala Wedo and Ayida Wedo – The white snake and the rainbow, together they are the oldest living beings. Danbala, the serpent spirit who represents energy and life, brings people into the Vodou. St. Patrick and Moses are used for Danbala.
• Ogou Feray – He is a fierce general who works hard for his children but can be moody and sullen at times as well.
• Ogou Badagri – He is a diplomat, and is Ogou Feray’s chief rival.
• Ezili Freda – The spirit of love and femininity. She is a mature light-skinned woman who enjoys the finest things, jewelry, expensive perfume, champagne etc. She is said to own all men (or she thinks she does) and can be very jealous. She gives romance and luxury. She is so pure she must never touch the bare ground. Her main rival is her sister Ezili Dantor.
• Agwe Tawoyo – He rules the sea and those who have crossed the ocean, and is symbolized by his boat named “Imammou”. St. Ulrich is his saint counterpart.(Sometimes classified as Petro.)
• Lasirèn – mistress of the sea and music.
• Filomez – She is a water spirit that is served with pastel colors such as blue, pink, and sometimes even green. In some Vodou houses, she is the younger sister of Erzulie Freda. In others, she is not. Filomez is considered to be a very rare, yet potent, loa.

Some loa, exhibiting both beneficent and destructive aspects, belong to both the Rada and warlike Petro-Nachon. This is true of Agwe, Erzulie, and Simbi Andezo, among others.

2. Petro or Petwo loa

The loa of this nanchon are aggressive, demanding, quick and protective and are more often associated with darker subjects and practices. The origins of this nanchon are unclear, but many believe them to be the spirits of the original slaves and Haiti’s indigenous people (The Taino – almost completely wiped out after European contact), a sort of “home-grown” family of spirits. In contrast to the old African Rada-nanchon the loa of the Petro-nanchon are mostly newcomers and associated with Haiti and the New World. These spirits were called upon during the slave revolts beginning in 1791 which ultimately led to the defeat of Napoleons troops in 1803 and independence in 1804. The name might be derived from a slave priest of mixed African and Spanish Blood name Don Pedro who was one of the rebellion’s leaders. One of the loas in this nanchon bears his name (Jean Petwo).

Some individual loa of the Petro Nanchon
The Petro loa are generally the more fiery, occasionally aggressive and warlike loa, and are associated with Haiti and the New World. Typical representatives of the Petro loa include Ezili Dantor, Marinette, Met Kalfu (Maitre Carrefour, “Master Crossroads”), Ogoun, Krabinay, and Ti-Jean-Petro. Ezili Danto – sister to Ezili Freda in the Rada nanchon – is a spirit of love, but with a penchant for violence or revenge.include Some loa, which have both beneficent and destructive aspects, belong to both the Rada and Petro-Nachon at the same time. This is true of the spirit beings Agwe, Erzulie, and Simbi Andezo, among others. In African voodoo, two groups of loa existed, called Congo (like Congo Savanne) and Ibo (like Ibo Lele), which were similar to the Petro-Loa. In Haiti, they are considered groups of distinctly cruel loa within the Petro Nachon.

Rites
The Petro rites are an integral part of the initiation ceremony (Kanzo), the rite by which serviteurs are initiated as priests and priestesses (houngans and mambos) of Haitian Vodou. The Bat Ge, the ceremony that precedes the Kanzo, is dedicated to the Petro loa, and the paquet congo created by and for new initiates are made under the watch of the Petro spirits.

Mistakenly the Rada loa are refered to as “good” and the Petro as “evil.” This is incorrect; the Rada loa can be used to make malevolent magic, while the Petro can heal and do beneficial workings. They are more accurately referred to as “cool” and “hot,” respectively. The drums, dancing, and rhythm are offbeat sharp, and unforgiving, like the crack of a rawhide whip. The traditional colour of the Petro loa is red and the rhythm and dance styles associate with Petwo include Petwo, Makiya, Bumba, Makanda, and Kita.

 

3. Nago loa

The loas of this nanchon represent power. Its members embody attributes of warriors and leaders. They originate from the Yoruba people of south-western Nigeria and are closely associated with Ogun (sometimes written Ogou), the Yoruba Blacksmith-God. The loas in this group have names starting with Ogoun or Ogun, like Ogun Fèray and Ogun Badagri. As such, they are represented by steel and fire. The Nago rites are replete with military imagery. These spirits give masculine, fatherly council and support. The rhythm and dance style associated with these rites is also called Nago.

 

4. Djouba loa

The loa of this nanchon are connected to cultivation and farming. They personify peasants, both in appearance and manner. It is surmised that this nanchon comes from the island of Martinique. The principal loa for this group is Azaka. The rhythms and dance styles associated with this nanchon are Djouba (Matinik) and Abitan.

5. Congo or Kongo loa

The nanchon Congo is a complex fanmi where their complexity is well demonstrated amidst the Simbi lwa. In Congo these spirits were called basimbi and designated the spirits living around ponds, rivers and fresh waters. They were at times considered to be a class of spirit composed of highly developed ancestral spirits. The Simbi ranges from the balanced and benevolent, as we find in Simbi Andezo to forms like Simbi Macaya, the lwa that was adopted as patron for the Bizango cult formed by Makandal during the rebellion in 1757. Simbi Macaya is seen as violent and dangerous and it is said that slave masters were sacrificed to him in the time of Makandal. The Congo petro rites are said to be bakongo in origin, and some say that it is the bakongo way that informed Petro rituals as well as many secret societies and more obscure rites, such as Zandor. The patron for the Zandor rites is Ti Jean Zandor and Erzulie Zandor, but it also count in its fold, Krabinay, Marinette and Simbi Yan-Kita. The Kita lwa being a sub division within the Congo nanchon together with Boumba, Caplau, Kanga and Mandange. According to Metraux the Congo division is also parted into Congo du bord de la mer, “Seashore congos” and Congo savane, ‘wild congos”. It is the latter that forms the influence into the Zandor rites and take of ferocious and nefarious qualities where they impart superior knowledge of herbalism, malefica and wanga.

The seashore congos are said to be of fair skin and possess long black hair and be of a superior intellect and possess better manners than the wild or interior congospirits. This form suggest a connection with La Siren and Agwe and therefore with the potency of prophecy, dreams and inspiration. Interestingly it seems that this class of lwa was already known in Haiti prior to the population from Africa as the Tayino Indians knew a spirit called Zimi, said to have a copper red hue and long black hair, living around springs and fresh waters. Usually these spirits are called Ti-Simbi.
Simbi Andezo is the Simbi that, like Leghba and Danballah possesses the perspective that sees two sides at the same time. Like Leghba he opens the crossroad for entrance into the rite, but Andezo opens the crossroad between the rites themselves. He possess the power to make the sweet into vinegar and the sour into honey. He is a Simbi of inspiration and secrecy, and albeit shy and difficult to know, as all Simbis, he possess a unique Janus qualities between the Rada and Petro rites where he brings a form of equilibrium between the sides. The Catholic imagery used to display Simbi varies from Moses to St. Charles Boremeo, but quite typical the Three Magi Kings are used to represent Simbi and thus the 6th of January becomes an important day for the celebration of this mystery.

The more balanced Kongo loa are gracious, and enjoy song and dance. In fact, music played for the Kongo nanchon is unique in that it is also popular in secular settings. In vodou worship houses called tanp (from the French temple) dolls representing these spirits are displayed adorned in brightly coloured clothing. Spirits include Kongo Zando and Rwa Wangol, many Simbi loa and Marinette, a fierce and much feared female loa, who is also classified as a Petro loa.The rhythm and dance style associated with this nanchon goes by the same name.

 

6. Ibo loa

The loa of this nanchon are from the Ibo people in south-eastern Nigeria. Their chief attributes are pride, to the point of arrogance, and are difficult to satisfy. These spirits preside over sacred items called Kanari, clay pots in which the soul of the initiate is said to reside during ritual possession. The best known loa of this group is Ibo Lélé (the chatterer). The rhythm and dance style associated with this nanchon also goes by the same name.

 

 

7. Ghède loa

The loa of this nanchon are are associated with the dead and also with carnality and eroticism. More accurately they control the cycle of death and life. They are also the intermediaries between the living, and the dead. Ghede loa have the capability to read people minds and to know everything that happens in both worlds. If a child is dying, Ghede is prayed to. It is believed that he will not take a life before it’s time and will protect the little ones. The Ghede are represented by figures in black with white faces. They transport dead souls, behave irreverently, make obscene jokes and perform dances that mimic sexual intercourse. The Ghede loa celebrate life in the midst of death and are also tricksters.

They are the largest family Loa in Voodoo. There numbers are only known to their Father, Baron Simityè (Baron Cemetery) and their Mother Grann Brijit. (Grand Mother Brigitte, Maman Brigitte). The latter and the Barons (La Croix, Samedi, Cimitière, Kriminel) also rule and lead the Ghede. The most famous loa of this nanchon is Baron Samedi. He is macabre, obscene and lives in cemeteries. Other loas include Gède Nibo, Baron Lakwa and Gède Zarien.

Aside from occupying an extremely important place in Voodoo, the Ghede are the goofiest. 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 far past consequence and feeling they are when they come through in a service—eating glass, raw chillis for example. Their favorite drink is Piman Kleren a fiery rhum with 21 hot peppers soaked in it. They love it so much, that they pour it on their body, wash their faces, and even their genitalia with it. Their presence seem to always put everyone in the assembly in a sexual type mood, some are known as gay. There’s male, and female Gede. When Gede come in possession, they wear sunglasses, with a missing lens, some cover their faces with baby powder. They wear white, black or purple clothing. They gossip and put people’s embarrassing secrets out, at the leisure of laughs from participants, but pull one aside, and ask him a serious question; he will give you the best answer that he can give. Some has the funniest name. Ghede Pete (Ghede the farter), Ghede Egare (Gede the retarded), are some of them; but there are also, some respected, old, wise and very rare. Such as Brav Ghede Nibo. (The Brave Ghede Nibo). Nibo is the name of an ancient village in Nigeria. Ghede Avoka, (Ghede the Lawyer), Ghede Mazaka, Ghede Zariyen (Ghede the Spider)

Gede’s feast are usally celebrated throughout Haiti, on November 2nd, in reference to its description of Tous les Saints (All Saints Day). Huge crowds are on the streets, en route to cemeteries. Drums are beaten, candles are lighted, songs are sung; VèVè are drawn on the grounds. It is a real party. Black Goats are sacrificed for them. The rhythm and dance style associated with this nanchon is called Banda. Their traditional colours are black and purple.

A popular song for Brav Gede goes:

Brav Gede alovi e
M’pat vin isi pou’m ret a moun o
Fouye twou a se mwen, antere a se mwen (bis)
Mwen pat vin isi pou’m ret ak moun o

Brav Gede Alovi eh
I didn’t come here to be anyone’s servant
Digging the hole; it’s me. Burying; it’s me (bis)
I didn’t come here to be anyone’s servant.

 

 

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