Legba

Fon trickster-messenger and gatekeeper, counterpart of Yoruba Eshu; interpreter of Fa.

Parentage

• parent: Mawu-Lisa

Domains

• messages mediation
• crossroads thresholds

Powers

• Translates the messages of the gods and Fa
• Guards gateways between humans and vodun

Epithets

• Aglosunto latin · AglosuntoLegba in his cult-tree (agbasa) guardian aspect at the compound entranceHerskovits, Melville J. Dahomey: An Ancient West African Kingdom. J.J. Augustin, 1938, vol. II, on Legba the linguist of the gods. (ethnography)
• the linguist of the gods latin · Legba, interpreter of the vodunYoungest son of Mawu who alone knows all the gods' languages and Fa's signsHerskovits, Melville J. & Frances S. Dahomean Narrative. Northwestern University Press, 1958, the Legba cycle. (ethnography)

Relations

• equated with: Trickster-Linguist of the CrossroadsThe same West African deity under its Gbe/Yoruba reflex (Legba/Eshu).West African vodun/òrìṣà cognates: the same deity across the Gbe (Ewe, Fon) and Yoruba traditions (M. Herskovits, Dahomey, 1938; G. Parrinder, West African Religion, 1961; P. Verger, Notes sur le culte des Orisa et Vodun, 1957) (secondary)
• equated with: EshuThe same West African deity under its Gbe/Yoruba reflex (Legba/Eshu).West African vodun/òrìṣà cognates: the same deity across the Gbe (Ewe, Fon) and Yoruba traditions (M. Herskovits, Dahomey, 1938; G. Parrinder, West African Religion, 1961; P. Verger, Notes sur le culte des Orisa et Vodun, 1957) (secondary)
• sibling: DanFull sibling — shares the same attested parentage (Mawu-Lisa) per the figures' cited genealogy.
• sibling: GuFull sibling — shares the same attested parentage (Mawu-Lisa) per the figures' cited genealogy.
• sibling: SakpataFull sibling — shares the same attested parentage (Mawu-Lisa) per the figures' cited genealogy.
• sibling: SogboFull sibling — shares the same attested parentage (Mawu-Lisa) per the figures' cited genealogy.

Sources

• existence: Mythopedia, Vodun Religion; Herskovits, Dahomey (1938) (secondary)