The Rada are a family of
lwa spirits in the religion of
Haitian Vodou
Haitian Vodou is an African diasporic religion that developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries. It arose through a process of syncretism between several traditional religions of West and Central Africa and Roman Catholicism. There is ...
. They are regarded as being sweet-tempered and "cool", in this contrasting with the
Petro lwa, which are regarded as volatile and "hot".
Description
The Rada lwa have been described as a "pantheon" of deities in Haitian Vodou.
The Rada lwa are deemed sweet-natured and dependable. In this, they contrast with the
Petwo lwa, whom are deemed volatile and hot-tempered.
The Rada are referred to as ''lwa rasin'', meaning "root lwa." As they are often regarded as having an intimate relationship with their worshippers, they are often given names implying a family connection, such as ''Papa'' ("father") and ''Kouzen'' ("cousin").
The Petwo lwa are kept separate from the Rada lwa, both spatially, by placing their altars in different parts of the ''ounfo'' (temple), and temporally, by invoking them at different stages in a ritual.
History
The Rada pantheon have West African origins; specifically, the pantheon of Rada lwa and their associated rituals derives from
Arada in
Dahomey
The Kingdom of Dahomey () was a West African kingdom located within present-day Benin that existed from approximately 1600 until 1904. Dahomey developed on the Abomey Plateau amongst the Fon people in the early 17th century and became a regio ...
.
"Rada" is a
cognate
In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words in different languages that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical e ...
of
Allada
Allada is a town, arrondissement, and commune, located in the Atlantique Department of Benin.
The current town of Allada corresponds to Great Ardra (also called Grand Ardra, or Arda), which was the capital of a Fon kingdom also called Allada (t ...
.
[Deren, Maya, ''Divine Horsemen'', McPherson & Company 2004, p. 60.]
Identities
Ezili Freda is a Rada lwa.
Some Rada loa are:
Legba
Papa Legba is a lwa in Haitian Vodou, Winti and Louisiana Voodoo, who serves as the intermediary between the lwa and humanity. He stands at a spiritual crossroads and gives (or denies) permission to speak with the spirits of Guineé, and is be ...
,
Loco,
Ayizan
Ayizan (also Grande Ai-Zan, Aizan, or Ayizan Velekete) is the loa of the marketplace and commerce in Vodou, especially in Haiti.
Background
She is a racine, or root loa, associated with Vodoun rites of initiation (called kanzo). Just as her h ...
,
Damballa
Damballa, also spelled Damballah, Dambala, Dambalah, among other variations ( ht, Danbala), is one of the most important of all loa, spirits in Haitian Voodoo and other African diaspora religious traditions such as Obeah. He is traditionally ...
,
Ayida-Weddo
Ayida-Weddo is a loa of fertility, rainbows, wind, water, fire, and snakes in Vodou, especially in Benin and Haiti. Ayida-Weddo is known as the "Rainbow Serpent". Variants of Ayida-Weddo's name include Aida-Weddo, Ayida-Wedo, Aido Quedo, and A ...
,
Freda, and
Agwé
Agwé (also spelt Goue, Agoueh, or Agive), is a lwa who rules over the sea, fish, and aquatic plants, as well as the patron lwa of fishermen and sailors in Vodou, especially in Haiti. He is considered to be married to Erzulie Freda and La Sirene ...
.
Ogou is a lwa who does not fit neatly into either the Petwo or Rada nanchon. Although he carries weaponry, which is associated with the Petwo, he is seen as the defender of the Rada values.
References
Citations
Sources
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External links
List of haitian lwa
Haitian Vodou gods
{{Deity-stub