Danbala Wedo

Danbala Wedo is pronounced to be one of the oldest and most beneficent African lwa (also known as has) spirits of the Vodou religion in Haiti. He is imaged in the form of a snake or serpent. The name Danbala originates from Dahomey, a kingdom in West Africa that is now positioned in today's Benin; it is constructed out of the terms Dan and Allada. “Dan” is the cult of the snake in Heaven, whereas “Allada” is the name of the coastal kingdom in South Dahomey, which is the native land of the Aja people who founded the kingdom of Dahomey and eventually dominated the Fon people, another West African group in Dahomey. In Africa, where Danbala Wedo is known as Dan or Danbada-Wedo, he is thought to be the grandson of Nana-Buluku, the Fon people's Supreme deity, and the son of Nana-Buluku's twin siblings, Mawu-Lisa, deities who created the universe. Danbala assisted in the creation of the universe and supports it with his snake coils. Thus, Danbala, the snake, is most closely associated with cosmic motion—that is, life itself. He is the patriarchal god of fertility and rainbows.

As a lwa of the Arada or Rada rite, one of three major rites of Vodou in Haiti, that represents the lost mystic world, Danbala embodies gentleness and peace; he is portrayed as a warm, benevolent presence who sustains the world. He plays a significant function through certain healing processes, and his principal characteristic rests in the fact that his actions are directed toward excellence.

Danbala is associated with wisdom and rain. Since Danbala is seen to be able to solve the problem of drought, he is accorded the status of a spirit of wisdom. This means, of course, that the people see Danbala as one who guards morals, principles, customs, and all African traditions. He is connected to the color white in representation of his pureness and is married to Ayida Wedo (or Aida Wedo), the goddess of the rainbow. His lover is Erzulie Freda Dahomey, also known as Ezili, goddess of beauty and grace.

As an Arada lwa, Danbala Wedo will be one of the first lwa served during the ceremony, and his vèvè marks that he will be part of the coming ceremony. Danbala's vèvè is a religious coat of arms or symbols that personally identify him. It is made up of a series of intercrossed lines, triangles, snakes, and flags and is usually drawn on the ground by a Houngan, a Vodou priest, or a Mambo, a Vodou priestess, with corn maize. An offering of pure white eggs, Danbala's sacrificial sign, is then placed on his vèvè as part of inviting Danbala into the Houmfort, the designated temple for Vodou practice. Danbala and his wife, Ayida Wedo, are also often provided with a basin of pure water, and the person mounted by Danbala may decide to “swim” in it. Danbala can ride his horse only when he is called or invoked by a particular drumbeat. The hounsi will respond only to the beat that corresponds to Danbala. He or she simply needs to focus on Danbala's rhythm to surrender himself or herself to it, and this is executed through the movements associated with the Yanvalou dance, a dance that imitates snakelike motions.

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