grisgris

Gris-gris refers to a talismanic object used in certain West African spiritual traditions and in Caribbean diasporic practices such as Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo. The term, also spelled grisgris, grigri, or grigri, denotes a small container—a sachet, pouch, or bottle—carried on the person or placed in a space, believed to house protective, luck-bringing, or healing power. The origins lie in West Africa, where similar amulets have long been part of folk and religious practice; the concept traveled to the Americas via the transatlantic slave trade and adapted within Haitian and Louisiana communities.

Forms and contents vary widely. A gris-gris may hold herbs, minerals, coins, beads, seeds, small dolls, or written prayers, and is often blessed or consecrated by a practitioner such as a priest, priestess, or healer. Cultural meanings attached to gris-gris range from protection against harm to attracting love, success, or favorable outcomes. They may be worn as jewelry, kept in a pocket, or placed in a home or workspace.

In scholarly and cultural contexts, gris-gris is regarded as part of a family of amulets and talismans that reflect diasporic religious expression and syncretism, blending African spiritual motifs with Caribbean and American influences. Contemporary understandings emphasize its heritage value and the variety of local customs associated with its use, while popular portrayals can oversimplify or sensationalize the practice.

See also: Amulet, Talisman, Voodoo practices, Gris-gris bag.