The Gede are the family of lwa, spirits or deities associated with Ancestor worship in Haitian Vodou, that represent the powers of death and fertility. They are often said to be found at burial sites, where they escort the deceased to their afterlife. Gede spirits include Gede Doub, Guede-Linto, Guede L'Orage, Guede Oussou, Guede Nibo and Guede Masaka, and Guede Ti Malice. All are known for the drum rhythm and dance called the "banda". In possession, they will drink or rub themselves with a mixture of clairin (raw rum) and twenty-one scotch bonnet or goat peppers. Fèt Gede is celebrated on 2 November, All Souls' Day ("Festival of the Dead"). Boons granted by the Gede not repaid by this date will be avenged afterwards.

Marassa: The divine twins

The Guede lwa have their own versions of the Twins, which appear as gravediggers. Twins are seen as having divine insight and vision. They are also part of the material world and the spiritual world (in their case, the living and the dead). They usually wear contrasting colors. Guede Masaka assists Guede Nibo. He is an androgynous male gravedigger and spirit of the dead, recognized by his black shirt, white jacket, and white headscarf. Guede Oussou wears a black or mauve jacket marked on the back with a white cross and a black or mauve headscarf. His name means "tipsy" due to his love of white rum. Guede Oussou is sometimes also linked with the female Guede L'Oraille.

Bawon Gede

The Gede are closely associated with the lwa, Bawon, whose aspects are Bawon Samdi (Baron Saturday) - ruler of the graveyard, Baron La Croix (Baron of the Cross) - guardian of the gravestone, and Baron Cimetière (Baron of the Cemetery) - guardian of the grave. Depending on the tradition followed, Bawon is: In any of these configurations, Bawon, Maman Brigitte, and the Gede rule death, the cemetery, and the grave.

Sources