Voodoo Trickster Gods of Africa and Haiti - Mythillogical Podcast Mini

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Who's that figure standing at the crossroads? After following Anansi’s journey from Africa to the New World, today’s bonus episode sees Charles and Crofty investigate two other trickster figures who were brought from Africa to the Americas, the gods Eshu and Legba.
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Mythillogical logo by Ettore Mazza. You can find more of Ettore's excellent artwork below:
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Video editing by Byron Lewis:
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Sources for today's video included:
Who Is That Fellow in the Many-Colored Cap? Transformations of Eshu in Old
and New World Mythologies by Donald Consentino
www.centroafro...
Anansi, Eshu and Legba. Slave Resistance and the West African Trickster by Dr Emily Zobel Marshall
www.academia.e...
The Trickster in West Africa: A Study of Mythic Irony and Sacred Delight by Robert D. Pelton
archive.org/de...
Eshu-Elegba: The Yoruba Trickster God by John Pemberton
exchange.umma....
Trickster makes the World by Professor Hyde Lewis
archive.org/de...
Yorùbá Influences on Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo by Ina J. Fandrich
journals.sagep....
The Haitian Voodoo handbook: Protocols for Riding with the Lwa by Kenaz Filan
www.scribd.com...
A Meeting with the Devil at the Crossroads: A Contemporary Legend? by Gail de Vos
scholarworks.i...
Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta by Robert Palmer
archive.org/de...
Suonatore di Liuto by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.fi...
License: filmmusic.io/s...
#Voodoo #African #Mythology

[@choptop81]

I heard a version of that Eshu story as a kid but without the context or the name Eshu. It was used as a way of demonstrating that people can have an incomplete perspective on something but still completely believe their viewpoint

[@Jareers-ef8hp]

Histocrat, you are one of the best history channels on KZbin, you are a breath of fresh air from the generic boring history from other channels. I am begging you to make a series on Japan 🇯🇵, not like you podcast on the Yokai, but an actual planned and edited video on on Japan 🇯🇵 like your other videos. Thank you so much sir.

[@dispresszine]

there's another story where a man asks a mae/pai de santos (like a priest) how he can get a wife and he says to him to leave an offering of meat to the Exu on the crossroads. when he is in the market holding a knife to cut the meat, Exu (in disguise) bumps into him making him cut the chiefs daughter with the knife. but when this is noticed, Exu says, 'look you've hurt her, now to make up for this you must nurse her to health.' This leads to them falling in love while he is caring for her and they get married.

[@dispresszine]

also with the story you gave, in my area Exu gets the friends into a fight because they refused to give him the correct offerings, just goes to show how entities in his line like Pombagiras and other Exus aren't evil despite their appearance because what they do is always justified.

[@fmac6441]

Eshu, or Exu as we wrote, is also a deity of candomblé and umbanda, two afro-brazilian religions.

[@dispresszine]

Laroyê

[@Donzk2]

Um br aqui? Haha

[@theawfultrumpeter8538]

Anyone else still waiting on “at the mountains of Kong pt 2”?

[@christchex91]

Oh yeah please 🥺

[@jordanpanning3659]

Yes!

[@sjmurphysj39]

Hundred percent

[@bfyrth]

Negative

[@x__g3482]

Yea that was the best

[@nadiabairamis3854]

Listening to the intro and I’m chuckling about the Tololoshi from Southern Africa.. he’s very NSFW Southern African countries have loads of very interesting characters.. the Nyami Nyami god also is very cool!

[@deangajraj]

Tracing African Voodoo's journey to the Caribbean draws attention to the timelessness of cultural change. In its transit from Legba of West Africa - a god combining both ruin and revival - to Papa Legba of Haiti, who acts as an intermediary between the physical and metaphysical worlds, this narrative elucidates Heraclitus' proclamation that "custom is king of all." The shift in Legba’s symbolism - from an impish being to a venerated elder - mirrors Heraclitus' words, “Everything changes and nothing stands still.” It also reflects humanity's fear of things unknown. However, despite these transformations, there remains an enduring feature: the plea to Papa Legba to "open the gate," emphasizing man's enduring hope for access to the divine, no matter their locale or era.

[@j-henry7391]

I used to spend time with a santarista family and they decided that I had a connection with Ogun, I would give him offerings, but I always had to bring some M&Ms for Elegua, because he might get jealous if I didn't give something to him too, and might try to trip me going down the stairs or something of the like

[@nerdwisdomyo9563]

That was the most laid-back video I’ve ever seen, 10/10

[@maxthepaladin2147]

I wanted to delve a bit into Vodun lore, and this video did well to finally organize some info in my head and give me some further reading. Fitting, considering Legba's domain as an intermediary

[@TheHistocrat]

Start speaking a new language in 3 weeks with Babbel 🎉. Get up to 60% OFF your subscription ➡Here: go.babbel.com/t?bsc=1200m60-youtube-thehistocrat-jun-2023&btp=default&KZbin&Influencer..thehistocrat..USA..KZbin

[@perniciouspete4986]

Mastering a new language? I'm having enough trouble with English.

[@IvorMektin1701]

I had to listen to John Forgerty "The Old Man is Down the Road" after that opening

[@Lisadasher]

Will yall please do a video on baron semidi

[@scroopynoopers2892]

thanks for the upload, interesting topic!

[@SomasAcademy]

Great episode!

[@dispresszine]

Im so happy you made a video about the Orisha, Laroyê Exú, much Axé 🙏

[@umfa9817]

At first I guessed you were Brazilian, but the videos on your channel suggest that you are from the UK ... So ... where are you from?

[@mikewifak]

Crofty’s music obsession is sounding pretty autobiographical. I live on the Mississippi gulf coast and was pretty unaware of a lot of this info. Cheers!

[@Davlavi]

Nice thanks.

[@ficklefingeroffate]

Always, great content.

[@ShreyanshShei]

Excellent video! How you make videos and do research for videos ? Please share with us

[@flashgordon6670]

Thanks!

[@WK-47]

Have to wonder what Campbell, Jung, or even Jordan Peterson would make of Eshu. As you guys indicate, it seems to be much more than a trickster deity or even the ambiguous, at times self-contradictory one associated with creation, etc. - perhaps also something like the essence of fate and the future, which humans in the present have to negotiate/bargain with somehow - like invoking Eshu isn't just to avoid malign tricks/influence, but striking a deal in good faith with the divine, in some sense like the concept of God bearing witness to human affairs in Christianity (and surely other Abrahamic traditions)? Fascinating stuff regardless. Thanks for the great work as always, lads. Here's hoping you keep on the right side of Eshu and revisit the mountains of Kong (wink wink, nudge nudge...)

[@bruhspenning]

would you consider uploading audio only videos in the new podcast section on your KZbin homepage?

[@kxs22]

Love me some myths... at least thats what the trickster gods want you to think

[@adamredwine774]

I lived in Haiti with my missionary relatives for some months when I was a teenager. They said that the voodoo priest huts could be identified by the large polls with flags on them.

[@bojaiden5175]

Esu, the entity also called Latopa While the victim sheds salty tears, Esu the onlooker sheds blood

[@welcometonebalia]

Thank you.

[@moose5761]

I haven’t listened the the whole thing. I’m about 3 minutes in. But that intro of the story about crossroads, I’ve heard that story here I think the south. I’ve heard it as a slave folklore that turned into a southern folklore, and I’ve heard it as a Cajun folklore. I’m super stoked to possible learn about where this originated

[@LifeWithMaryT]

Slave…SLAVE FOLKLORE? How about an WEST AFRICAN BELIEF SYSTEM or a YORUBA RELIGION??? This didn’t start when AFRICANS were stolen from their lands and forcibly made into slavery by lazy assed colonizers who didn’t want to work the lands that they had STOLEN from the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, who were always here! 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

[@azaraelhyzer3874]

I wanted to say "thank you sir".

[@nazareneoftheway3936]

I think time stamps would help if this is always gonna be more slow paced of a podcast with miscellaneous conversations, not because i dont enjoy that too, but just so i can go to specific parts i wanted to hear over again without watching the entire podcast for the one part, like a kind gentlemen did on your sumerian creation myths episode.

[@Lisadasher]

Papalegba colors are red and black their number is the number 3

[@BShandyman]

This explains so much about Haiti… BBQ anyone? 😅

[@Book-bz8ns]

Jackson Crawford can help you with Norse.

[@vozhd2723]

Or as they say in Old English, Help, Halp, Holpen.

[@DepthStrider222]

This needs more views wtf

[@Lisadasher]

First of all that's a lie because I work with papalegba you don't have to give him any sacrifices unless you are selling your souls he's a nice looking man do a ritual to him at home I will tell you how to work papalegba

[@NecroBanana]

Eshu is alsp considered to be a god of languages in Santeria, not suprised to see this carry over to other faiths when he is the god of the crossroads. I'm sure he meets many travelers.

[@Lisadasher]

And send those orders out and then you are going to order boxes of frankincense it doesn't matter how many send those orders out

[@chads.1726]

Isn't voodoo an Caribbean faith born from an amalgamation of traditional African religion and catholicism to escape persecution by their Christian slave masters? According to Africa and Haiti it is.

[@MrSlaternater]

Voodoo is African at it's base but there have been certain Christian ideas and terminology mixed with it since it was brought to the Caribbean. There are movements in some countries to remove any Christian aspects from it though.

[@ssoomee]

Haitian here 🇭🇹 👋🏾- Haitian Voudou is a syncretic religion made of several African religions of West and Central Africa and Roman Catholic theology- and yes, it was, and is, a religion that spoke to the experiences of the enslaved ancestors of my country. It is NOT witchcraft nor is it intended for evil (I know you didn’t say that, but I’m just putting it here). And no, most of us don’t practice it as a person usually practices Christianity, but I think it has a similar presence in Haitians’ everyday lives through superstition and general world view as I would say Wicca or attitudes towards witchcraft have in North America among anglophones (ie believing in a headless horseman but then going to church every Sunday). Though I will say that for the younger generation there is a desire to return to our ancestral roots and exploring the deeper origins of Voudou are part of this renewed interest. Also, don’t forget that other islands in the Caribbean practice syncretic religions like Lucumi/ Santeria/ Orisha, etc and that Haiti IS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY WITH THIS HISTORY. I say that because it was very easy to give Haitians a bad reputation (because of anti-black racism in the Western Hemisphere) to vilify us for our self- actualized independence. ❤️

[@chads.1726]

@ssoomee thank you for your insight because CNN sure isn't putting Haitians on air to discuss these issues (probably would be a popular rapper knowing cnn) so I haven't really heard a personal account and opinion. I mean, what little I have learned about the history has been equal parts, heartbreaking / infuriating. And you explained it so much more clearly and effectively than I ever could have.

[@dietlindvonhohenwald448]

@@ssoomee Question: if Voodoo is so powerful and Haitians say it works, they why is Haiti, after winning their Independence and freedom, the poorest nation worldwide with so many problems and very high crime rate? Yet under occupation and foreign rule it was thriving and a famous international vacation destination. It is obvious in Haiti, that self governing has been a total failure on every possible level.

[@chrishale5213]

​@dietlindvonhohenwald448 under international rule it was an island populated primarily by the enslaved. They were the majority of the population. So no, it wasn't "thriving" for most the population. And it was not a vacation spot. That was more like Cuba. The whole islaND of Hispaniola was a relatively lawless place. "Petit Whites" were rivals to Big whites and didn't respect the laws. Big whites were forever trying to maintain legitimacy back in France, and they took every opportunity to vacation OFF the island. The rainy season was uncomfortably humid and hot which caused Mosquitos with diseases hostile to humans. When Napoleon's nephew tried to retake the island. A large plurality of the army died of mosquito borne diseases. This is why they had imported enslaved people from West Africa in the first place. Petit whites did not want to perform labor under those conditions. And Big whites wanted to maintain social status in Europe. If you listened to the video than you know the variations of Eshu represent BALANCE. They demonstrate human traits and human emotions. Unlike Christian fundamentalist most spirits are not infinitely benevolent. So destruction, war, disease, and imprisonment are perceived as a balance from past negative behavior. Or an imbalance that has not yet been redeemed. Colonization never ended just shifted shape. Just as war in Europe or Mideast never ended, it just shifted shape. For people that practice various forms of Ancestral veneration, these forms of destruction represent an imbalance in human behavior that has yet to be corrected.

[@ayy-its-dub]

Eshu probably had a heyday with that dress a few years ago.

[@ghfranc0]

Exú is an Orixa in Umbanda as well (brazillian religion)

[@Lisadasher]

Look up what are eshu colors

[@Lisadasher]

And then yall are going to order him 3 two toned red and black dish rags dish towels and table cloths

[@Lisadasher]

And then yall are going to order papalegba 3 plain two toned red and black folding table and chairs send that order out

[@randyallen2966]

There is no such thing as too long an episode

[@MrBlazingup420]

Doesn't the trickster Enki, have one leg shorter than other in art work, where you can take his imagery, place it in Sagittarius and Ophiuchus, who has a shorter leg, one is standing in the Great Rift, running from Sagittarius through Aquila up to Cygnus the Swan. In the story of Anu his mountainous wife Uras, their two daughter and son Enki, the seal shows two dragons vomiting water at the foot of the mountain, which is the belt of the milky way, the mountain being the 7 main stars of Ophiuchus, even pyramidal on top. This seal shows Enki separated rift. This area of the zodiac is known as the golden gate of the gods, where we find the center of our galaxy, where stars are born, they called gods. Here is a little trick with words, play "Say There Is A Guest" in reverse, you will hear Sagittarius in it's echo, when the sun is in Sagittarius, its the month of December, which can be echoed with "Her Message". Ophiuchus is a shapeshifter, seen as a cave door, a mountain, and belly of the goddess, with it's pyramidal top, the obelisk, a phallic symbol, or maybe an altar, because, the words "Seek Reefer" played in reverse will echo Ophiuchus, that was burnt on the altar to the Holy of Holies. In astrology, Sagittarius is the hips and thighs, Scorpio is the sexual organ, hidden between the two is Ophiuchus the Womb, the 13th sign. The earth goddess Mari live high on top of a mountain, deep deep in a cave, waiting for her Juana, meaning "Gift from God", her Sugaar Maju, to do the Maqlu "burning", the ritual to combat witches and demons. One way you speak after you gargle with cedar resin, it repellent of all pests, even snakes and rats and unwanted guest. To speak with Mari, you Maqlu her 7 witches. A cross can be made with the top part of Ophiuchus and the heart of Scorpio, the star Antares, a star you can echo with the words "She Raise Dead", creating a "Heart Beat" played in reverse echoes "Libra", I guess you can say the hermaphrodite would be Virgo, Latin for virgin, coming from 'vir' Latin for Man, 'gyne' Greek for Woman, and the words "Boy/Girl" will echo Virgo played in reverse, and the little trickster scares all of earth, play the words "Scare Earth My Arm Of Nuit" in reverse, you hear it echo "Vindemiatrix", the hand of Virgo that holds the rod, being two like a twin, Gemini, use the words "Beyond The Mist", it is part of the silver gate of man, in the center Orion next to Taurus, used the words "Say Oath, They All Rule", played in reverse "Orion, Taurus". Could the gates be that cross rode, with the hermaphrodite Virgo waiting at the center, below is a wolf, associated with the shapeshifter, where you find the Great One, we call Aquarius, standing on the mouth of the Southern Fish, the star Fomalhaut, play "Thou Am Wolf, Say You're Will Taught" in reverse, it echoes "Aquarius, Fomalhaut". February is when the sun is in Aquarius, use the words "You Will Be Fed", to the wolf for breaking that oath. From the hell hounds Bootes next to the Supervoid, a great warning, play "Canes Venatici, Cor Carol", in reverse, it echoes "You Are Rock, Throw, God Said End Earth, Send It" , Bootes too is seen with one leg shorter than the other. Or maybe this Voodoo and I just open a door, letting out the Trickster. Ha Ha Ha

[@Lisadasher]

And you are going to order him 3 two toned red and black walking canes

[@Lisadasher]

And order bottles of Florida water and holy water it doesn't how many of those you order

[@mathieuleader8601]

Eshu is paradoxical

[@Lisadasher]

Papalegba day is Wednesday eshu day is Monday there numbers are the number 3 and they move obstacles out of your way

[@aanchaallllllll]

0:12: 💬 Babel is a language learning app that offers scientifically proven lessons to help you speak a new language in as little as three weeks. 4:43: 📚 The video discusses various sources and references used for a section on mythologies and tricksters in different cultures. 9:55: 📚 The video discusses the creation of the universe and human society through the example of a praise poem about two friends who forgot about an important issue. 14:46: 👥 Legba is a mediator in the Vodou religion who bridges the gap between the human and divine worlds. 19:16: 🔥 Legba's sexual escapades lead to his punishment of eternal arousal and insatiable lust. 24:05: 🗺 Slaves from Western Nigeria and Benin were taken to the colonies of San Domingue and Louisiana, where they maintained their religion of vodun in secret. 28:56: 💀 The video discusses the history of Voodoo in Haiti and Louisiana, including its origins, migration, stereotypes, and the adoption of Catholicism in Haiti. Recap by Tammy AI

[@Lisadasher]

But he's telling the truth about people selling their souls to papalegba

[@Lisadasher]

Papalegba colors are red and black

[@Lisadasher]

And then yall are going to resend those orders out for yall selves

[@Lucifer-X]

The lwa are real.

[@Lisadasher]

Send those orders out and then yall are going to resend those orders out for yourself he doesn't have sores that's a lie

[@Lisadasher]

And then you are going to order papalegba pictures he's a old black man standing at the crossroads he loves kids toys but they have to be red and black

[@dmacattacks]

No more Babbel...

[@Lisadasher]

Wrong eshu colors are red and black

[@Lisadasher]

Then order papalegba 3 packs of two toned red and black boxers and order yall women two toned red and black bra and panty sets order 3

[@1-10-andmore]

Jesus is coming.

[@camicoz]

So are the aliens!!

[@TracyD2]

Jesus is an alien.

[@blights5468]

He is in our midst

[@DarkGoddess-mm3jl]

Where??

[@Embracehistoria]

Rude words.

[@igotno_username1739]

Damn it. Another African episode

[@mayfalltribe4747]

Oh noe :( now u dont get to wait for more norse words you barely understand to tattoo on yourself lol

[@maxdiaz8616]

Personally I don’t mind. Videos based around non western stories are incredibly refreshing, especially compared to the slew of media constantly retracing the same stories and lineages we’re used to.

[@tuomasronnberg5244]

​@@maxdiaz8616Same, I really like these African stories because I've never heard them, or heard them being talked about before.

[@dispresszine]

cope with it, they're also Brazilian too 😵