Origin & Beliefs
Obeah emerged in the islands of the West Indies that were under British rule, such as Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas. Similar to many other Afro-Caribbean religions, it was formed out of influences by West African slaves who arrived to the area during the slave trade. Heavy reliance on herbalism, healing rituals, and spells caused great speculation, controversy, and eventual banishment from British officials, seeing the religion as a source of evil and witchcraft.
Beliefs/Rituals: Unlike other religions inspired by African slaves, Obeah does not rely on group rituals or gatherings. Due to it being outlawed for a majority of the time since its establishment, it was performed on a much more individualistic level. Animal sacrifices, contact with spirits or ancestors, and healing was achieved on a one-on-one basis, as to not gain unwanted attention and face consequences.
In Jamaica, a variation of Obeah called Myal is more prone to community gatherings and rituals that depend on the presence of a group.
Purpose: Perceived by many outsiders as a form of “black magic,” Obeah does rely heavily on the existence of the supernatural. Ancestry is a crucial factor, and contact with the spiritual realm helps to assist people with healing and matters concerning justice. The religion accrued much controversy since its inception, and outlawing it has led to a more private, business-like approach to consulting the spirits; people will contact an Obeah man or woman just like they would a doctor or a psychic, and rituals would be performed to assist that person with their particular problems.
Many Obeah men or women are contacted for the task of healing, and their performance as a healer or medium for the spirits determines their reputation in the community
Other problems typically had by those who visit these “healers” could vary from romantic trouble, legal issues or seeking luck.
In some cases protection would be sought from duppies, the soulless shadows of those who have moved on. These were perceived as ghosts, likely to be mischievous or sometimes evil.
Fetishes, or inanimate totems, would be given as protection, said to hold special powers for those who possess them.
Many times these would be constructed out of natural elements like dirt, animal parts, or even human parts.
Reading/Resources
Crosson, J. Brent. "What Obeah Does Do: Healing, Harm, and the Limits of Religion." Journal of Africana Religions 3, no. 2 (2015): 151-76. doi:10.5325/jafrireli.3.2.0151.
Rucker, Walter. "Conjure, Magic, and Power: The Influence of Afro-Atlantic Religious Practices on Slave Resistance and Rebellion." Journal of Black Studies 32, no. 1 (2001): 84-103. www.jstor.org/stable/2668016.
