Simbi

Fresh waters, magic, messages

Simbi is the lwa of fresh waters, springs and rain in Haitian Vodou. His name comes from the Kikongo simbi, which designates spirits of waters and places in the Kongo region: he is one of the most clearly Kongo presences in the Haitian pantheon, beside a whole that came largely from the Bight of Benin. He is served in the Petro rite in several forms, among them Simbi Dlo, the one of water, Simbi Andezo, the one of the two waters, who stands where fresh water meets the sea, and Simbi Makaya, patron of magicians. He passes for quick, intelligent and demanding, and he is said to carry messages between the worlds. A widespread belief holds that he keeps near the springs the children who linger there, to make them his servants: mothers see in it a warning as much as a tale. His colours are white and green. His offerings are left near the places where water wells up, and one does not disturb a spring known to be his without greeting him first.