Papa Legba acts as an intermediary between the loa and humans. He is also the god of the crossroads; he opens the road to the spirit world. He taught mankind the use of oracles and how to interpret them.
The loa are a group of divinities who are concerned with the lives of humans and who often personify forces of nature.
Papa Legba is commonly depicted as an old man sprinkling water or an old man with a crutch, and is also known as Legba or Legba Ati-Bon. In any vodoun ceremony, Legba is the first loa invoked, so that he may "open the gate" for communication between the worlds. The dog is his symbolic animal.
Papa Lega, very likey came from the West African Legba, who served very much the same funtion within the traditional African Voodon. Legba the child of the Sky Pantheon. He is allied with destiny, but has no particular domain. Legba is very intelligent and cunning, despite the fact that he is a trickster. Although Legba appears as a weak poorly dressed old man, he is really very strong. He understands all languages of humans and of the gods.
Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:09 pm