ouanga
9.9
An object or spell people in Haitian Vodou use to make magic happen
- noun
- Literature
:
ouanga
- The priest carefully prepared the ouanga, chanting spells to awaken its magical powers.
Examples
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She believed that the ouanga held the key to her success in the upcoming ceremony.
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Certain organs of the disgrounded stiffs are indispensable for use in ouangas.
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In Haitian Vodou, a powerful ouanga can summon spirits to aid in rituals.
Synonyms
9.9
A sacred pot used in ceremonies to hold spirits and their power
is specific to Haitian Vodou and also includes spells causing supernatural effects
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ouanga comes from Haitian Creole and is probably from West African words for a 'charm' or 'spell', similar to the English words voodoo or juju. An ouanga is a magic object or spell used to protect or help someone, so the origin explains its modern meaning.