West-Indian Folklore

Bacoo, LaDiablesse, Dwen, Soucounyant, Rum Jumbie, Old Eye...These are some of the characters that my grandparents and other old folks would relate to me. It seems to me that these folkloric stories are diminishing as the older gneration passes on. This part of West-Indian culture is very inportant and should not be forgotten. It is also important that we learn more about folklore so we can share with our children these stories that have been around for hundreds of years. I would appreciate it if you all can share with me your opinions on this topic as well as share with the rest of Islandmix some of the stories you heard as a child. Don't forget to mention characters that are not listed here. For Example: A Bacoo is a little person that is found in an enclosed bottle. Once opened, the Bacoo is supposed to grant whatever you wish in return for food. If you deceive the bacoo, it will bring you harm and seek out your life. If you find any correlation between this and other characters you may know of, please mention it. GUYANA IS BEAUTIFUL:-)

RE: West-Indian Folklore

Lets see if I can remember this one Dark Night People (Paul Keens Douglas) - if anyone knows where I can find the whole poem let me know... De wind blowin hard chile I hear a moaning in de breeze de night black as Mary backside and yuh want to go outside? yuh better catch yuhself Like yuh wah spirit tek yuh Like Lucas little girl chile One night she hear a moaning A baby bawling in de wind an gone she gone Mama Maladie tek she Make de sign of de cross Mama Maladie tek she Put de lamp by de window chile Mama Maladie fraid fire strike a match and voops she gone... Yuh laughin? Well laugh nuh Mr. Johnson did laugh too when we warn he bout LaDiablesse, till one night he bounce up one was late and Johnson was ridin he horse and he see dis pretty pretty lady de lady smile Johnson tip he hat and pass 1/2 mile up de road yuh know what Mr. Johnson see de same lady again well is den he heart start to beat

well is den he remember all de tings we tell he bout LaDiabless how is always a pretty lady talkin nice and always have a long dress because she had one good foot and one cow foot...... and it goes on.... I wish I can remember all..... if allyuh know where I can find some let me know.....
RE: West-Indian Folklore

Always true to my word here is some stuff I was researching for an article for the Culture Section. It really is important to keep up our verbal folklore tradition as it is a gift from the MotherLand. Soucouyant ( also known in Jamaica as Ol' Higue ) She is generally an old woman who travels by night in a ball of fire, leaving her skin behind her, to suck the blood of her sleeping victims. You can tell you've been bitten by a soucouyant if you see two little bite marks side by side, anywhere on your body in the morning. La Diablesse ( la jah-bless ) from the French - female devil She roams the night, waiting to lead men astray. She appears in all white with a long flowing dress to hide her cloven foot or hoof (the other foot is perfectly normal). Beware any man who encounters this "beautiful" lady on a lonely night. She spells grave trouble for him. People have been found the next morning, usually naked in a graveyard or up some thorny tree, dead. Douens (Dwens) Douens are supposed to be the evil spirits of children who died before they were baptised. They trap children and lead them away from safety, sometimes to their deaths. They look like ordinary children, but wear hats that cover their faces and are barefoot. Their feet are turned backwards. Children who play with douens, thinking perhaps that they are ordinary children, are gradually lead further and further astray and may be found the next morning in a precarious position, if at all. Blessings!!!

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