Obeah
Obeah is a system of spiritual, religious, and magical practices originating in West Africa, particularly among the Akan, Igbo, and Yoruba peoples, and later transmitted to the Caribbean through the transatlantic slave trade. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs and rituals aimed at healing, protection, divination, and influence over events or individuals. While often characterized by outsiders as black magic, Obeah functions as a complex spiritual tradition that combines indigenous African practices with elements of Christianity and local Caribbean beliefs.
In the Caribbean, especially in Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados, Obeah has historically played a vital social
Legal restrictions on Obeah have existed since the 19th century, mainly influenced by colonial authorities seeking
Scholars view Obeah as a syncretic tradition that reflects the resilience and adaptive strategies of African-descended