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 In Vodou, Erzulie (sometimes spelled Ezili) is a family of lwa, or spirits.
[edit] Erzulie Freda DahomeyErzulie Freda Dahomey, the Rada aspect of Erzulie, is the spirit of love, beauty, jewellery, dancing, luxury, and flowers. Homosexual men are considered to be under her particular patronage. She wears three wedding rings, one for each husband - Damballa, Agwe and Ogoun Batagris. Her symbol is a heart, her colours are pink, blue, white and gold, and her favourite Maetress Mambo Ezili Freda, or more commonly known as Ezili Freda is the Lwa of extreme riches, beauty, femininity and all things "Queen like". Think of Marie Antoinette but in a spirit form. Her services are usually done elaborately. She is actually thought of as a very lightskined woman; Freda is great and all powerful Mambo. Her work show results very quickly, hence the song done at her service; Se zekle yanyan se loray mwa dawou, M a rele kanwoulo, Ezili Freda kanwoulo, O kanwoulo metres kanwoulo Tout ko-m se lo, Ezili soti nan lame-a, Tout ko-m se lo Translation; It is lightning yanyan, it's the storms of August, I'll call kanwoulo Ezili Freda kanwoulo, O kanwoulo metres kanwoulo My body is gold, Ezili comes from the sea, My whole body is gold... Putting together a service for Freda can be quite tiresome as she is very particular about her offerings and since she is rich to the point of spoiled, what ever is offered to her she will most likely want more which support why most of the time she leaves a ceremony in tears. Her offrerings are:perfume, candles, gold jewelry, pink and white dresses and more. Her desire for riches is insane. She is normally served on Thursdays by giving her pink champagne, pink and white cakes, fine cheeses, rice pudding with cinnamon, chocolate, Creme de mint and sometimes a white dove as a sacrifice. Other offerings that please her are perfumes such as; Pompieea and Nuit de Noel and make up. Although this may seem like alot, her services do benefit!!!
Agwe is the sovereign of the seas. When he manifests in possession, the horse paddles around the peristyle, saluting and calling out maritime orders to those in the peristyle. Agwe is one of Ezili Freda's husbands, and along with LaSiren, LaBalenn and other watery Lwa, represents the great intuitive powers and deep knowledge of the ocean. As any water entity, Agwe symbolizes the intuitive secrets held within, the deep connection to eternal movements and powerful forces. Children of Agwe are usually water people - sailors, swimmers, water signs of the Zodiac. Agwe moves with infinite grace and power. His world is the deep, under currents of the oceans, of which he moves around with ease in his boat, Immamou. Danbala is recognized as the father of all the Lwa. His image is that of St. Patrick. His color is pure snow white. During possession, the magical white sphere is "placed" above his head (the horse's head) for privacy. Danbala is so pure that he typically only needs a raw white egg on pure white flour and a vessel of water. This represents the giving of life. He is the father of all knowledge, having received this knowledge or konnisance from the African tradition known as Nago Oyyo. His knowledge of the world and the people of this world is very deep. Azaka Mede-A powerful spirit associated with the peasantry farming and farmwork. He dresses as a peasant wearing denim and carries a handmade straw djakout bag. The bag he carries with him represents produces from his harvest and his overwhelming knowledge and importance as a Lwa. Kouzen is from the Djouba Nation although he's often mistaken for Rada. During a ceremony the vodun priest will switch from Ason to chacha & from candle to bouji; the beat will change to djouba beats and the dance is more like the Tayino's feet hoping from side to side on the dance floor, Kouzen is the only Lwa that is link and hold the secret of the Arawak Tayino's, He's identify as a tall lightskin man with cinamon brown hair color. His colors are navy bleu and red, his additionals things are; a manchete, a chacha, a pipe with raw or unfiltered tobacco, a straw hat and a four pockets front button handsmade shirt. His favorite drinks are: extra sweet coffee, herbal white rum, cola &sugar cane syrup; his sweets are: mint flavored hard candy or raw cane or rapadou. His food are; Goat (never pork he doesn't eat it) red rooster, dried cod fish(mori) Cassava bread, roasted dried corn, roasted nuts,(chaka) Haitian dried corn and beans soup or Catchupa in Cabo Verde, rice & beans, boiled corn, yams and sweet potato. His favorite fruits are:fully ripe and sweet banana, oranges, mango, To call on Kouzen you may use; kleren or white rain or rum with herbs, the manchete the djakout & very sweet coffee. If kouzen is one of the lwa of your ancestors, you call Him with the offrands below he will come for sure. Besides being known as a lwa of agriculture, Kouzen is also a protector of sick children he often station in the gate of death to make sure they don't enter, sometimes he will scare them off just to make them return to their body during their final hour, He assist children during sugery and warn parents of danger. Kouzen's month is May; his day is Saturday as it is and would be for any farmer. LWA KOUZEN'S INFO WERE ADDED BY: Veronica Ogoun-God of metal, fire, iron and war Marasa-Twin spirits depicted as twin children and representing the Yin and Yang, possitive and negative, Earth and Ginea, Day and Light, etc... Odan Wedo-Very old, ancient and wise Lwa, the father of Danbala Wedo. His image is that of Moses. Ayida Wedo-Spirit of rainbows and married to Danbala Wedo Ounto-Spirit associated with the drums of the peristyle Linglesou-is a Magician/Sorcerer. He executes judgement on those who have gone back on their word or who have harmed one of the faithful. He travels via the air and is found in places when people gather to deal in activities that involve greed and excess. He likes sharp objects knives scissors and especially razor blades, as well as barbed wire- all things that tear the flesh. He has a great appetite and a hunger that is satified by blood when it is warm. In the Hoodoo tradition the term *Bucket of Blood* relates to rough bars where fights happen on a regular basis and blood is spilled. This is the type of place that Linglesou likes to frequent in order to eat. La Siren is considered to be the "Mother of the Sea". Since she is the mother of the world, her children are too many to count - not unlike the fish who inhabit her domain of the sea . Science shows us that life began in the oceans of the world. And, as a fetus, we wade for nine months in our mother's womb. Therefore calling the Ocean our Mother is not all that far fetched - a large body of salt water, rolling and moving with the tides. Not unlike being rocked in the womb of our mother. And, just as early life evolved out of the oceans, we too must change from little fish-like fetuses into human beings at birth. We come from the waters and manifest ourselves into the reality of our world. This can be seen as an allegory of LaSiren, who brings her initiates knowledge from beneath her watery domain, helping them manifest their desires. Legba- the opener of the cosmic gates. Also known as Atibon Legba is imaged as San Lazaro. He is a very old yet powerful spirit and is good for starting to work with the Lwa. His Petro counter part is Kalfou who is the night of the spirit world, very hot and uses the moon as his symbol where as Legba uses the sun. Papa Legba typically accepts of course a white candle with water, pour cornmeal into a white basin along with molasses and crack a raw egg over the cornmeal and molasses, with out leaving any of the shell behind. He also likes to drink Babencourt or Kleren with Zodevan leaves placed in the bottle. He carries his straw sack on his back called a D'jakout that is filled with the offerings we give him, he walks with a cane or a crutch which you'll find common on his altars. Legba is the one we must acknowledge prior to acknowledging any of the other Lwa. Where this is not the case is when contacting our ancestors. Legba nan baye a!!! Legba at the gate!!! Papa Ghede- (Bawon, Plumaj, Manman Brigette, Simitye, etc...) Ghede is the entity of fertilization and eroticism. He is also a great healer and a very wise counselor, as well as a great protector. His colours include black and purple typically, depending on the spirit. The love shades of all colors but usually stick with black/purple. They are the ones who liven up the party towards the end of the night into the wee morning hours. Although they do have a tendency to appear uninvited throughout the night to see what is going on at the party. Upon their arrival (with the exception of some) he will want his face powdered to represent the face of a skull, as Ghede is dead. He will most likely want his sunglasses and his outrageous hats. Cigars, an absolute must! He then will need his big wood stick or zozo, which is Kreyol slang for penis to simulate having sexual relations with those in the peristyle. Although this sounds degrating and risque, he is usually blessing you while doing this. His favorite dance is the Banda which is also the name of the drum rhythm that gets him going. There are various Ghede Lwa as with any nation and they like different offerings, foods, rums, etc...from Ti Mazaka who is a child like Ghede at about six years of age (his actions) and who loves cake to Plumaj who loves his chimen (rum with jabanero peppers, very hot!!!). Ghede love children and will stop at nothing to protect them. The Gede are considered to be the children of Papa Bawon and Mamman Brijit or Gwan Brijit as she is sometimes called. Since people die on a daily basis, new Gede lwa are being created every day!! Papa Bawon and Mamman Brijit choose the souls that will become Gede Lwa! There are many Bawon's in Haiti!! Bawon Cimitiere lays as a corspe during a possession and is covered with a sheet, Houngans and Mambos will then dance over him in order to receive his benediction. Bawon Travay, Bawon Ravaj, Bawon Fouye, Bawon Loray, Bawon Samedi are just a few of the Bawon served in the peristyles through out Haiti. He is a truly beautiful spirit, Bawon loves women and is a very good lwa to work with regarding any woman's abuse issues. He is famous in Haiti for "taking care" of men who are verbaly or physically violent with women or children. The offended woman takes the matter before the cross of Bawon (Kwa Bawon) of which there is one in ever cemetery in Haiti, she may make a small offering and the situation is quickly handled. He is also most merciful to children and knows a great many herbal remedies and treaments to help heal the sick. In some rites Bawon is saluted and considered to be a 33 degree Freemason, with all the knowledge and privleges of such rank. Bawon is a Houngan Asogwe and has a tremendous amount of knowledge regarding wanga and spells which he often will share with the children of his house. Mamman Brijit is Bawon's wife, she acts like a normal Gede and is known for her exceptional ability to dance the Banda. The Gede love to eat baked/broiled goat meat, kasava bread, fried plantain, black coffee with and w/o sugar, cigarettes, popcorn, roasted peanuts, drink chimen, wear sunglasses upside down and create havoc in general and we love them for it!! Some Gede eat fish but this is not a normal offering to him. The Gede are to numerous to mention but here are a few: Gede Ti Malice, Gede Ti Pete, Gede Plumaj, Gede Ti Mazaka and more... Ezili Dantò (pronounced DAN-tor) is one of the singularly important mysteries served in Vodou, and is famous throughout the country of Haiti and into the Diaspora. She is the principle of motherhood, the strong and ferocious woman who works very hard for her family with little reward. She is associated with tough country ways and is fiercely independent. Ezili Dantò is considered to be an extremely tough lady, and can be wild and difficult to control. Dantò generally considers men to be of limited use to her, and will form affiliations with them based principally on opportunity, and also for the new life they help to produce. She is known to be the protector of women's affairs and has killed many a man who has dared to abuse one of her daughters. It is Dantò who will drop everything to come to the assistance of her children. In this, she is seen as very maternal, despite her "wild" nature. Most "official" accounts of the Bwa Kayiman ceremony, which began the Haitian Revolution, credit the lwa Ezili Dantò as both receiving the sacrifice given as an oath to fight until death, and in declaring war against the French. In fact, popular legend has it that Dantò wrote the declaration of war in hog's blood on parchment made from the skin of a White French man. Legend further has it that Ezili refused to dismount the manbo who she had possessed before the following day; such is the significance of Assumption on August 15 in Haiti, and why Ezili Dantò is celebrated on this day. It is said that, after poisoning the White slave masters in their houses, Dantò fought alongside the men during the Haitian Revolution. This is Ezili Dantò. She rages and she destroys. She can be wild and vengeful. However, often this rage is turned inward and manifests in rather startling ways. Possessions by Dantò tend to be very moving affairs. She cannot speak, as she has no tongue, but utters the staccato "kay-kay-kay- kay" all the while gesturing to make herself understood; she is also deaf. Dantò does have an extreme manifestation in Ezili Je Wouj (literally, "Red-eyed Ezili") who speaks, but not in a manner most people would be used too understanding. In possession, the violence of Ezili Dantò can emerge without warning and with the elemental force of a torrential rain, sweeping away both just and unjust alike. Because of this, her rage is often equated with the thunderstorm, and in this Dantò is associated with another little-known Ezili called Kawoulo. Dantò can be wild at times and difficult to control, especially if she smells the blood of a black pig, her favorite food. Vodouwizan are careful when offering such a pig to make sure and calm Dantò down as quickly as possible following the sacrifice in order to avoid danger... unless of course, the sacrifice was made in exchange for a specific work, in which case, the society may wish to keep her heated. Some Vodouwizan maintain that Dantò is a lesbian. This is false, and a misconception due to a complete misunderstanding of her nature. In reality, Ezili Dantò is a hermaphrodite, having both male and female characteristics, partaking of both natures, and this is also one reason why she is so wild and difficult to control. Because of this, she will readily marry as many women as she does men. She may present as a woman, or as a man, and is capable of taking on whatever form is most pleasing to her human spouse. Ezili Dantò is said to have several children. The first is her daughter who she carries in her arms. Most authors identify this child by the name Anaise, though this is not her "true" name. The child is also an hermaphrodite and is often said to be more fearsome than the mother. Many people over look the child when dealing with the mother, not realizing that, since she is both mute and deaf, it is the child who is translating the prayers and demands of the servitor for the mother to begin with. Dantò has a son Ti-Jan Petwo who is also said to be her favorite lover. She is also the mother of several sets of Marasa, both twins and triplettes. Besides Jan, Ezili Dantò is known to have relations with Ogou Ze Wouj (who is himself a form of Ogou Badagris), Ogou Feray, Simbi Makaya, and the Bawon. Though served in the rites Petwo, her origin, like all lwa bearing the name Ezili, and most of the lwa of her family, is actually Dahomean, descending as she does from the spirit Aziri and similar entities of the Mami Wata cults of West Africa. Most notably, Ezili Dantò bears a great resemblance to the West African deity called Mami Tchamba. However, because she is considered to be so hot and wild, it is the rites of Petwo, not Rada, which contain her. Some people also claim her origins are in the traditions of the Native Tayino. While this is not impossible, there is no real evidence to support this. Contrary evidence of her origins being in Africa is plentiful, however. Many people mistakenly confuse Ezili Dantò with other spirits surnamed Ezili who are served in the Petwo rites such as Ezili Balyan, Ezili Kè Nwa, or Ezili Mapyan, but this is erroneous. These are all her sisters; they are different lwa. However, Ezili Dantò does have an even more extreme manifestation in Ezili Je Wouj, and this is her most violent and dangerous manifestation. In some lineages, Ezili Dantò is known under a different name and by a slightly different manifestation called Manbo Zila (sometimes simply Manzila). Vodou adepts see this manifestation in the lithograph of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. When she arrives in the peristil she utters, not the rapid staccato "kay-kay-kay-kay", but a more guttural "ep— ep— ep" or "de-de-de-de". This particular manifestation has been traced by some houngan and manbo as having immediate roots on the Kongo. The feud between Ezili Dantò and her sister Ezili Freda Daome is legendary. They are considered to be mortal enemies, and Vodouwizan take great pains to separate their services, even to the point of not making offerings to them on the same day, if possible. Oral legend points to the long-standing hatred between these two powerful female spirits as the origin of Dantò's facial scars, her twa mak (three marks), which were made by Freda's jeweled dagger during one of their many battles. Her colors are dark blue, red, and also multi-colors; the manifestation known as Manbo Zila is known to wear red and green. Dantò's day of the week is Tuesday, and she is feasted on several dates annually including July 16 (Saut D'eau), August 15 (Assumption), and December 24 (Christmas Eve) Her Catholic saint associations are with the following: Our Lady of Czestochowa (promounced "Chezo-ho-va") or Mater Salvatoris (the Black Virgin Mary who the Cubans call Santa Barbara Africanis), Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. With the exception of Our Lady or Lourdes, Ezili Dantò is most frequently associated with images of the virgin holding an infant, the Christ child, though Vodouwizan do not so identify this child. Rather, he is understood to be a she -Ezili's child Anaise. In the diaspora, Dantò may be found associated with Our Lady of Prompt Succor, and with the image of the Hindu divinity called Kali-Ma. Ezili Dantò drinks kleren, dark rum, trempe, dark crème de cacao, dry red wine, and some kinds of beer, ginger tea, and black coffee. She is not offered sweetened drinks, as this calms her disposition to much. She is offered roasted peanuts and corn, rice and various beans, black beans and corn meal, rice with mushroom (djon-djon), boiled corn meal mush with peppers, and kasava bread. Dantò receives red or black (but not red and black) hens and the Kreyòl black pig (an indigenous pig, which, at one time, was all but wiped extinct by Americans). -It should be noted here that her real food is pork. Poultry, while exceptable as a substitute if pig is not available, is not really her food, being as it is considered more of a "snack" than a meal. Dantò carries a sharp dagger (sometimes several), and smokes a pipe with tobacco, cigars, cigarillos, and/or dark strong filterless cigarettes. She receives Florida or Kinanga Water (both common skin bracers), or in some houses, the perfume called Rev d'Or. She also greatly enjoys all sorts of dolls, especially twin dolls being as she herself is a mother of twins. Just as Freda's metal is gold, so Dantò's is silver. Unlike most Petwo lwa, she can be served in kwi bowls, just as on the usual wooden or tin-plates otherwise offered Petwo mysteries. Simbi is a Kongo lwa served in the Petwo-Kongo rites. He is a lwa first and foremost of fresh water, including springs, streams, and wells. However, the name Simbi represents a very diverse family of lwa including Simbi Dlo, Simbi Andezo, Simbi Anpaka, Simbi Anpola, Simbi Lawouze, Simbi Maza, Simbi Ganga Djimbowa, Simbi Makaya, and so on, who are served in Vodou. The relationship to fresh water for some of these is more or less apparent, and some, like Simbi Andezo (Literally, "in two waters") have a connection to both fresh and salt water. Others have no apparent connection with water at all. For example, Simbi Anpaka is associated specifically with leaves and poisons. Simbi Makaya is known as a sorcerer, and when he enters the peristil, the Petwo slave whip is tied around him. Neither one are offered water. Some of the lwa called Simbi may be served on the Rada point in some circumstances, though most are served in the Petwo rites. While there are no female Simbi, the lwa called Gran-n Simba is considered by some adepts to be the mother of all mysteries called Simbi. Simbi is also a lwa of communication, and in this can be seen as rather mercurial. He is associated with crossroads and the crossing of power, and because of this, he is known to be a consummate sorcerer, lending his skill to many houngan, manbo, and bokò (sorcerer) who have a relationship with him. He is associated with the figure of the equal-armed cross. The Simbi lwa are of Kongo origin. They descend from the spirits known in the Kongo as basimbi who live in fresh water ponds and streams. In the Kongo, these spirits represent the highest class of the ancestral dead. Interestingly, the Native Tayino who first inhabited Haiti knew of similar spirits called Zimi who lived in fresh water streams. These child-like spirits had copper or red colored skin and long silky black hair. In Vodou, these spirits are still known today and, through no small linguistic confusion, are called Ti-Simbi, though they apparently have no direct relation to the lwa Simbi whatsoever. Interestingly, in Louisiana the old people still speak of cymbees or cymees who also did exactly this sort of thing. Possessions by Simbi may run from mild to violent, but frequently take a long time to manifest and only after much expedition. Many of the lwa called Simbi, Simbi Dlo for example, are known to be shy and somewhat lazy, tending to stay outside the hounfò until cajoled by the people to enter. Other Simbi, such as Simbi Makaya, are quite bellicose. By nature, Simbi tends to both be with, and protect, the servant with whom he has good relations, or will turn his back on those with whom he does not. Many songs for Simbi speak of him being "hard to know", and this is true even for his children. In the hounfò, Vodouwizan sing, "Gran Simbi Lawouze. M'chache pou'w; mwen pa we'w. M' wele'w; mwen pa jwen ou. Simbi, piga male rive'w." (Great Simbi [of] the dew. I look for you; I don't see you. I call for you; I don't find you. Simbi, be careful; ill fortune will beset you.) And... "Simbi Andezo! Sa ki fe yo pa vle we mwen yo poko konen mwen. Yo bay mwen pwen a; se pou m mache la nwit, O! Simbi Andezo! Sa ki fe yo pa vle we mwen yo poko konen mwen." (Simbi Andezo! The reason why they don't want to see me is because they don't yet know me. They gave me the magic spell; it's so that I can walk in the night, oh! Simbi Andezo! The reason why they don't want to see me is because they don't yet know me.) His base color is white. However, there are many Simbi, so the colors favored for each will vary. For example, Simbi Makaya is served with red and green. Simbi Andezo may be served with red and white. Simbi Ganga is served with red and blue, and so forth. Simbi's day of the week is Tuesday. He is associated with Catholic saint called Charles Boremo. Some houses associate him with St. Andrew, but this is more commonly the saint used to represent Kalfou. Still other houses associate Simbi with the image of the Three Kings of Epiphany. brought to you by: The truth about Us What is Vodou? Vodou Beginnings Vodou then and now Our Mother; Mambo Marie Lwa of our house Sevis et Travay Kanzo Drums and Rhythms The Haiti Experience Products, services and more. again, this image is more commonly used to represent the Kongo nation of spirits in general. Post by: Veronica De La Croix [edit] Other Aspects[edit] Erzulie in popular cultureErzulie (Freda) is also a character in the broadway musical Once On This Island as the beautiful goddess of love. [edit] Notes
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