loa

Loa, also spelled lwa, are spirits venerated in Haitian Vodou and related Afro-Caribbean religious traditions. They are regarded as intermediaries between Bondye, the supreme creator, and human beings. Each loa has a distinct personality, realm of influence, and ritual requirements. People may seek guidance, protection, or blessings from the loa, and in ceremonies they may be honored with music, offerings, and dance.

Loa are organized into families or lineages, often described as rada (cool, benevolent, associated with the ancestors and West African origins) and petwo (fiery, urgent, sometimes aggressive). Ghede form another group associated with death and fertility. Examples of loa include Legba, the gatekeeper who opens the way; Damballa and Ayizan, associated with wisdom and the priestly craft; Erzulie (various aspects of love and motherhood); Ogoun (iron, warfare, technology); and Baron Samedi (the dead).

Ritual practice centers on creating and maintaining an altar for the loa, offering food, drink, candles, and sacred objects. Music, drums, and songs accompany processions and dances. In some ceremonies, participants enter a trance or possession, allowing a loa to speak or act through a devotee. Catholic saints are often syncretized with loa, a historical result of colonial-era religious mixtures.

Loa are central to Haitian Vodou and related traditions in the Haitian diaspora, including the Dominican Republic, parts of the Americas, and Louisiana Voodoo. The concept is widely studied by anthropologists and religious scholars as an example of Afro-diasporic religious systems; popular depictions in media often misrepresent the beliefs and practices of practitioners.