In Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo, Ogun is a warrior orisha associated with blacksmithing and the creation of iron tools and weapons. Called Ogou in Haiti, he is in charge of guarding sacred temples and political power, and is known for his protection of Vodou followers. HISTORY AND ORIGINS Like many of the orisha and loa, Ogun has his origins in Africa. In the Yoruba belief system, he was the first orisha to come to earth, in the form of a hunter named Tobe Ode, who led the other orishas to the world of mortals. Armed with an axe and sword, he was known as the god of warriors, blacksmiths, and hunters. Thanks to his role as a patron of the hunt, he is associated with dogs—the traditional hunting companion in many parts of the world. In Nigeria, he cleared paths through the forests with his machete and axe, and thus became known as the orisha who opens the way when it is blocked. As the patron of metalworkers, who are often healers and spiritual leaders, Ogun watches ...

At once beautiful, protective, seductive, and dangerous, the water spirit Mami Wata (Mother Water) is celebrated throughout much of Africa and the African Atlantic. A rich array of arts surrounds her, as well as a host of other aquatic spirits--all honoring the essential, sacred nature of water. Mami Wata is often portrayed as a mermaid, a snake charmer, or a combination of both. She is widely believed to have "overseas" origins, and her depictions have been profoundly influenced by representations of ancient, indigenous African water spirits, European mermaids, Hindu gods and goddesses, and Christian and Muslim saints. She is not only sexy, jealous, and beguiling but also exists in the plural, as the mami watas and papi watas who comprise part of the vast and uncountable "school" of African water spirits. Mami Wata's presence is pervasive partly because she can bring good fortune in the form of money. As a "capitalist" deity par excellence, her ...