Glossary Of Voodoo Terms

Voodoo Terms Creole Glossary:

Agau (ah-gaw) The loa of storms and earthquakes.

Ago (ah-go) A ritual exclamation that means attention

Agwe (ah-gway) The loa who oversees fishing, sailing and all activities in and on the ocean.

Angajan (on-gah-zhon) Literally “engagement” transaction between a person and a loa in which the person receives black magic in exchange for service to the loa.

Anj (onj) Literally “angel” a loa usually a person’s met tet

Asogwe (ah-sog-way) The highest rank of the Vodou priesthood , which grants the privilege of initiating other priests and priestesses.

Ason (ah-sohn) The sacred rattle given to an oungan or mambo upon initiation into the priesthood.

Asoto (ah-saw-taw) A drum used in some Vodou ceremonies that measures up to five to six feet in length.

Ayibobo (ah-yee-bo bo) A ritual exclamation used in the sense of “amen”

Ayida Wedo (ah-yee-dah-way-do) The loa of the sky symbolized by the rainbow who is Danbala’s wife

Ayizan (ah-yee-zon) The patron loa of priestesses who oversees initiation into Vodou: also a crown made of palm fronds that is shredded during the ceremony that precedes the kanzo ritual.

Azaka ( ah-zah-kah) the patron loa of farmers and agriculture.

Ba tambou manje (bah tahm-boo mon-zhay) A ritual to feed the sacred drums.

Bade (bah-day) The loa of the wind.

Bagi (bah-gee) A room inside the ounfo that is consecrated to a particular loa and contains an altar and the loa’s emblems

Baka (bah-kah) An evil spirit that takes the form of a dwarf, animal or small monster and is created by black magic to eat the life force of its victim.

Banda (bon-dah) a dance symbolizing sex that is performed during Vodou rituals in honor of the Gede

Baron Cimeterre ( bah-rohn- see may-tayr) Once aspect of

Baron Samedi, the loa who represents the cemetery.

Baron Crois (bah-rohn kwah) One aspect of Baron Samedi who represents the cross.

Basen (bah-sayn) A tank of water provided in the ounfo for those possessed by aquatic loa to dunk themselves.

Bat ge (baht gay) Literally “beat war” a Petro ceremony sometimes held before the kanzo ritual that brings on possession by the initiates met tets.

Bat tambou (baht tahm-boo) Literally “beating the drums” a Vodou ceremony.

Batem (bah-tem) A ritual in which sacred objects are consecrated to the loa and infused with their spiritual powers.

Bato Agwe (bah-to-ah-gway) a specially constructed raft that is loaded with offerings and floated on the open ocean during rituals honoring Agwe.

Baton (bah-tohn) The crutch used by Papa Legba.

Batri (bah-tree) The orchestra in Rada rituals, consisting of three drums and the ogan.

Batri Maconik ( bah-tree- mah-kohn-eek) A rhythmic beat produced by clapping hands and beating the drums that symbolizes rapping on the door to the world of the loa

Baye (bah-yay) The gateway between the physical world and the world of the loa.

Benye (bayn-yeh) A person who bathes the bodies of the deceased.

Bizango (bee-zon-go) A Haitian secret society known for it practice of simplification.

Boko (baw-kaw) A Vodou priest who exclusively practices black magic and does not lead a socyete also commonly spelled bokar.

Bondye (bohn-dyay) Literally “the good God” the supreme being or God

Bosal (bo-sahl) Literally “wild and uninitiated person who has experienced possession by a loa

Bosou (bo- soo) A loa who takes the form of a three horned bull and represents male fertility.

Boucan (boo-kon) The bonfire lit during a Vodou ritual

Boula (boo-lah) The smallest of the three drums used in Rada tituals also called the cato or petit

Boule-zin (boo-lay-zeen) Literally “burning pots” the final stage of the kanzo ritual in which initiates undergo a trial by fire by dipping their hands in hot cornmeal or oil.

Case Kanari (kah-say kah-neh-ree) Literally “breaking the pot” a ritual sometimes held on the day of burial in which a large clay pot is shattered in a ceremony that recreates all the important death rites of Vodou.

Ceremoni (say-ray-mohn-ree) A Vodou ritual

Cha -Cha (shah-shah) A small calabash rattle filled with beads used to guide the singing or as a musical instrument in Vodou rituals not to be confused with the ason.

Chante-loa (shon-tay l-wah) Ceremonial singing to the loa.

Chay (shay) A magical power or energy that enables a person to accomplish extraordinary feats or change the course of events.

Chire Ayizan ( (shee-ray ah-yee-zon)