Myths and Rituals: From Christianity to Obeah

The islands of Trinidad and Tobago have beautiful rolling belts of mountainous highlands, flourishing rain forests, large reserves of petroleum, and obeah. Obeah, a form of black magic or witchcraft used in the West Indies, is prevalent even today in Trinidad and Tobago. Obeah was viewed by white slave owners as a superstition, was a form of slave religion a powerful facet of African culture transplanted to America. The word Obeah translates into the meaning serpent of wisdom. Obeah is primarily used to cause harm and is done out of malice, envy or "bad mind". …