Calling Papa
The Haitian slave's original chant was
"Papa Legba, open the gates, your children are waiting
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children are waiting
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children are waiting
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children await
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children await
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children await"
When the slaves to America, and breeded with Creoles the chant. The new chant became:
"Papa Legba, Papa Legba, Papa Legba, open up the gate for me"
"Papa Legba, open the gates, your children are waiting
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children are waiting
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children are waiting
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children await
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children await
Papa Legba, open the gates, your children await"
When the slaves to America, and breeded with Creoles the chant. The new chant became:
"Papa Legba, Papa Legba, Papa Legba, open up the gate for me"
Chants
The Spiritual World
Papa Legba is a voodoo god in the Haitian culture. He goes through the spiritual world and the human world. He is the one that decides if you can speak to the spirits. It is told that some times that you actually have to do things for him or offer him something. When you make that exchange then he will decide if you can cross over into the spiritual world. It is also told that he is a trickster, that he tricked many people so he only got what he wanted. So naturally the person who called to Papa Legba has a bad fortune. The tradition of him tricking started in the slave trading era. He comes in many different appearances. Still to this day he is talked about.
Haiti isn't the only place where Papa Legba was popularly known, he originated in Africa. Although he most commonly known in the Haitian portion of voodoo, he is thought to originate in the following tribes of Africa:
Haiti isn't the only place where Papa Legba was popularly known, he originated in Africa. Although he most commonly known in the Haitian portion of voodoo, he is thought to originate in the following tribes of Africa:
- Ewe
- Fon
- Dahome
- Yoyuba
- Etc.
- Ghana
- Togo
- Benin