Ingi
Ingi are the spirits of the Indigenous peoples of Suriname. There are forest ingi, water ingi and kapten or piai ingi, who count as healers and seers. In dreams they often appear in Indigenous dress, with a headdress or bow and arrow.
- Realm
- Forest and water, Indigenous spirits
- Colours
- Red and white
Who are the ingi?
The ingi are spirits connected with the Indigenous peoples of Suriname, the original inhabitants of the land. That they have a place in Winti shows how the tradition grew in Suriname: African traditions came into contact with the people and spirits who were already there.
Practitioners distinguish several kinds. The water ingi is described as polite and cheerful, the busi ingi as short and direct. The kapten or piai ingi counts as healer and seer, akin to the piai, the Indigenous spiritual healer.
Ingi in dreams
A figure in Indigenous dress, with a feathered headdress, bow and arrow or a matapi, is often read as an ingi within the tradition. Red and white are the colours linked with the ingi.
Practitioners also mention a dream in which you see yourself pregnant in white Indigenous dress: read as an ingi making itself known. And someone who dreams that a partner must fetch a red pangi for them can read that within the tradition as teri, tribute, for an ingi that is probably their djodjo. The idea is that prosperity follows when you honour the ingi.
What an ingi asks
Practitioners mention cigars, Florida water and pimba with the ingi, and red and white clothing as tribute. Tomato is mentioned as an example of a trefu for busi ingi, but trefu are personal.
On the forum it is claimed that a large share of Surinamese people have an ingi as djodjo. That claim is not established and is disputed within the community too. Which winti belongs to you remains a question for a luku.
How this winti can show itself in dreams
A figure in Indigenous dress with a headdress
Often read as an ingi making itself known.
Yourself pregnant in white Indigenous dress
Read by practitioners as an ingi showing itself. Prosperity is said to follow when you honour her.
Bow and arrow or a matapi
Attributes linked with the ingi.
What does your dream mean?
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Write your dream in the appFrequently asked questions
Does almost every Surinamese person have an ingi as djodjo?
That is claimed, but it is not established and is disputed within the community too. Which winti belongs to you is established through a luku.
What is a piai?
An Indigenous spiritual healer. The kapten or piai ingi is seen in Winti as healer and seer.