Religion

African-derived religions worship a divine being and several divinities. The term gadu refers to Winti deities in Suriname. Religious traditions associated with the Yoruba religions call the supreme being Olodumare (Santería, Candomblé, and others). Olodumare is the creator and ruler of all things; he owns character and human destiny. He is also the source of ashe, or divine essence, and all other forces at work in the world. In Vodun devotees serve the Bondye (supreme being), who created the world and maintains balance. Divinity in the Rastafarian movement is called Jah Rastafaria.

Devotees serve the orishas, who manifest divine energy and are considered part of the community. The orishas themselves depend on the members of the community as much as the members of the community depend on them. Vodun devotees serve the loas (lesser deities), also called les invisibles and les mysteres. Among the lwas (spirit intermediaries), Legba is important because he, like Esu, opens the door to divinity, and must receive a share of all offerings.