The Lwas: Legba

Legba

Spheres of Influence:

Spirit of rituals, keeper of the gates, guardian of the crossroads

Nation:

Rada

Colours:

Red, white

Symbols:

Cross, keys, walking stick, crutches, mirrors

Offerings:

Grilled Chicken, sweet potatoes and plantains, bones, small bag containing kleren, tobacco, and a pipe hung in a tree or doorway.

Favoured Trees:

Calabash

Veve:

Catholic counterparts:

St. Peter

St. Anthony

St. Lazarus

Other associations:

Greek Mythology:

Janus
Hermes

Cabala:

Tipareth

Lukumi:

Eleggua

Images:

Statue of Legba from Benin, Africa

Quotations:

"Papa Legba governs the threshold to the spirit world. As master of the crossroads, he can help you find the way if you are lost." [Gordon 2000:52]

"Legba, well-known in Africa as a seducer of women and a mischief-maker, is known in Haiti as a kindly old man, but he still has to do with fertility and likes sacrifices of goats and roosters. Legba ceremonies begin with a song to him and the sprinkling of a few drops of rum on the ground in his honor. Legba's Roman Catholic equivalent is St. Peter. He opens the way from the material to the spiritual world (as a syncretic image the keys of St. Peter tie in nicely with Legba). And like the Greek Hermes, Legba is a liminal god." [Rodman 1992:17]

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Rada

Ghedes

Petro

Legba