Papa Legba

The first LWA to start things off must be Papa Legba! He is my Mét Tét (Master of my Head) and the gate keeper. I will be blogging about terms in Vodou, but right now I want to begin, as all Vodou services do, with Papa Legba.

Vodou began in Dahomey, now modern day Benin, and they are the Fon people of West Africa. Papa Legba is not originally from the Fon. He was adopted, like Ougu, from the Yoruba. The Yoruba people, also in West Africa, have the Orisha and the Fon have the LWA, or Loas. Papa Legba began as Elegua, an Orisha.

As an Orisha, Papa Legba is a trickster, as a LWA, he is a kindly spirit who is a bit extreme. He is either a young child filled with curiosity or an old man brimming with wisdom. He has a hard time with the middle ground. He is synchronized with St. Lazarus in Rada and St. Anthony in Petro. Some houses synchronized him with St. Peter, since St. Peter is a gatekeeper like Papa Legba. Papa Legba is the gatekeeper from this world into the spirit world. No LWA can come through without Papa Legba's consent. If one ignores Papa, one may never have a good relationship with the LWA.

When most meet Papa, they think he is their Met Tet since he has a huge presence in the physical world. I've had many physical interactions with Papa over the years. He usually appears to me to cheer me up and make me laugh. Papa has a fabulous sense of humor and loves to play. He is also a bit lazy. He loves to introduce people to different LWA. He knows which LWA want to help you and which could care less.

He is very easy to serve. He loves coconut candy and children's toys. I give him yo yos and toy cars. He governs transportation and communication. He also loves coconut rum and a good cigar. His Rada colors are yellow and base white. In Petro, he is all red. His altars should be adorned with the appropriate colors.

When he appears in this world, he is usually a man with some sort of cane or crutch. He's vevé has a crutch too. He might say something to you to make you laugh. Papa Legba has said some of the most outrageous things to me over the years, and I've laughed every time.

As much as he opens doors, he  can close them too! As my Mét Tét, I know whether I should follow something by asking Papa. If Papa does not like a road I'm traveling on, he will put up a block. I remember when I was breaking up with a guy many years ago, and just starting to serve the LWA, Papa literally got me a job the next day, and the guy was out of my life! It was very startling. More than any LWA, he has the final say in my life since he is my papa. Ougu may like something, Ezulie Freda may want something, Damballa/Wedo may have ideas, but if my papa thinks it is not in my best interest, the door is closed!

Not everyone is going to have that relationship with Papa Legba. Most will just be on friendly terms with him on the road to their services, but he is the first LWA to have a relationship with. His power lies in his humility. He does not ask for a lot, just some consideration and respect. A cup of strong coffee or a handful of peanuts, and he will do amazing things.

Here is Papa Legba's song an invocation in Kreyol;

Par pouvwa Sen Antwan d'Padou: Legba Atibon
Mét kalfou, met gran bwa
Lega Zenkliye, Legba Miseya, Legba LWA
Legba avadra boroy
Vié, vié Legba.
Ago, ago-si, ago-la