Creole mythologies of the Caribbean and diasporas
44 spirits documented in the Kunda Codex
From Guadeloupe to Cuba, from Jamaica to Brazil, the African diasporas recreated their spiritual worlds in the crucible of the plantations. Yoruba, Kongo and Fon memories fused with creole life to create santería, candomblé, quimbanda, kumina and the rich bestiary of the French Antilles: the night-flying soukounyan, the dorlis, Manman Dlo. The entries below document them with sources.
SpiritallyBARON SAMDI
Death, sex, laughter
Spirit of the Dead
WaterallyERZULIE FREDA
Love, beauty, luxury
Spirit of the Waters
SpiritallyERZULIE DANTOR
Maternal protection, wrath
Protective Spirit
SpiritallyAYIDA-WEDDO
Rainbow, fertility / Ayida Wedo
Creator Spirit
WaterallyAGWÉ
Sea, navigation
Spirit of the Waters
WaterallyLA SIRÈNE
Waters, seduction, wealth
Spirit of the Waters
SpiritallyELEGUÁ
Crossroads, luck
Trickster Spirit
SpiritallyBABALÚ-AYÉ
Disease, healing / Obaluayê
Healing Spirit
WaterallyIBEJI
Twins, joy, protection
Spirit of the Waters
SpiritallyINLE
Medicine, fish
Healing Spirit
SpiritallySOUCOUYANT
Female vampire / Soucougnan
Ancestral Spirit
SpiritallyLUSCA
Sea monster
Ancestral Spirit
SpiritallyLA DIABLESSE
Seduction, deceit
Spirit of Love
SpiritallyPAPA BOIS
Forest, nature
Spirit of the Forest
SpiritallyLAGAHOO
Shapeshifting, werewolf
Shapeshifting Spirit
SoulallyDUPPY
Ghost, wandering spirit
Ancestral Spirit
FireallyMAMAN BRIGITTE
Purifying fire, justice, protection of graves
Spirit of Fire
WaterallyOGUM BEIRA-MAR
Sea, war, navigation
Spirit of the Waters
WaterallyYEMANJÁ (YEMAYÁ)
Mother of the seas, motherhood, protection
Spirit of the Waters
AirneutralEXU (ELEGGUÁ)
Doors, cunning, messages, beginnings
Spirit of the Air
SoulneutralGUÉDÉ NIBO
Death, youth, exuberance, spirit of the young dead
Spirit of the Dead
FireallyOGOUN FERAY
War, iron, resistance, courage
Warrior Spirit
FireneutralPOMBAGIRA
Seduction, vengeance, freedom, femininity
Spirit of Fire
SoulallyESPRIT KUMINA
Trance, music, possession, healing
Healing Spirit
SpiritallyNGANGA
Hero
Hero Spirit
EarthallyAYIZAN
Initiation, markets, dignity
Ancestral Spirit
EarthallyPAPA LOKO
Vegetation, healing, guardian of temples
Healing Spirit
WaterallyMARASSA
Divine twins, childhood, abundance
Ancestral Spirit
AirallySOBO
Thunder, storm, discipline
Warrior Spirit
AirallyBADÈ
Wind, breath, messages
Creator Spirit
WaterallyAGASSOU
Leopard, Dahomean memory, springs
Ancestral Spirit
EarthallyGRAN BWA
Forest, plants, initiation
Healing Spirit
AirneutralMÈT KALFOU
Night crossroads, thresholds, tipping point
Creator Spirit
WaterallySIMBI
Fresh waters, magic, messages
Spirit of the Waters
FireneutralTI-JEAN PETRO
Fire, trees, cunning
Warrior Spirit
FireneutralERZULIE GE-ROUGE
Anger, mourning, wounded love
Protective Spirit
EarthneutralBOSSOU TWA KÒN
Bull, raw strength, fertility
Warrior Spirit
FireneutralMARINETTE
Revolt, night, birds of prey
Protective Spirit
FireneutralDANBALA LA FLAMBO
Serpent of fire, Petro force
Creator Spirit
SoulneutralBARON LA CROIX
Death, elegance, philosophy
Spirit of the Dead
EarthneutralBARON CIMETIÈRE
Guardian of graves, threshold
Spirit of the Dead
SoulneutralBRAV GEDE
First of the dead, memory of the departed
Spirit of the Dead
EarthallyAZAKA MEDEH
Agriculture, peasantry, labour
Ancestral Spirit
FireallyOGOU BADAGRI
Strategy, command, iron
Warrior Spirit