Houngan and manbo
Priest and priestess in Haitian Vodou.
A houngan (oungan) is a priest and a manbo a priestess in Haitian Vodou. They lead ceremonies in the peristil, guide communities, heal and help interpret dreams and signs. According to tradition whoever has a dream in which a lwa or ancestor seems to ask for something discusses it with a houngan or manbo who knows them.
Dreamkin does not prescribe ceremonies; those belong to them.
Related terms
- Lwa The spirits of Haitian Vodou, each with their own character, domain and signs.
- Papa Legba The lwa of the gate and the crossroads, greeted first in every ceremony.
- Erzulie The family of lwa of love and motherhood: Erzulie Freda and Erzulie Dantò.
- Damballa The ancient lwa of the white serpent: wisdom, calm, purity and water.
- Gede The family of lwa of the dead, led by Baron Samedi: humour at the boundary of life and death.
- Gwo bonanj and ti bonanj The two soul parts in Vodou: the big good angel that travels in sleep, and the little good angel, the conscience.
- Ogou The lwa of iron, fire, work and struggle.
- Vèvè The drawn symbol of a lwa, made with cornmeal on the ground.
- Lakou The family compound in Haiti, where the family's lwa are served across generations.
- Agwe The lwa of the sea, ships and those who cross the sea.
- Mami Wata A water spirit venerated across West and Central Africa and the diaspora: beauty, wealth and the water.