Veve

A veve (also spelled vèvè, vévé or vevè) is a religious symbol commonly used in different branches of Voudoun throughout the African diaspora, such as Haitian Voodoo. The vévé acts as a "beacon" for the Loa, and will serve as a loa's representation during rituals.

Function

 * Hartridge mentiones vévés during his lecture: "The ritual circle is prepared with a vévé -- a pattern of symbols. Each tribe's vévé is slightly different, consisting of complex symbols that identify their special loa."
 * According to Milo Rigaud "The vévés represent figures of the astral forces... In the course of Vodou ceremonies, the reproduction of the astral forces represented by the vévés obliges the loas... to descend to earth."
 * Every loa has his or her own unique vévé, although regional differences have led to different vévés for the same loa in some cases. Sacrifices and offerings are usually placed upon them, with food and drink being most commonly used.

Presentation
Usually the vévé is drawn on the floor by strewing a powder-like substance; commonly cornmeal, wood ash, flour, bark, gun- or red brick powder, though the material depends entirely upon the ritual.

The Agris/Gedde tribe uses a mixture of blood (chicken, goat or human) and flour for rituals. The Hounfour of New Orleans is decorated with prints of the Gedde vévé as well as one of the drawers in the Gedde tomb.

History
It is commonly believed to have possibly originated from the cosmogram of the Kongo people, or originated as the Nsibidi system of writing for the Igboid and Ekoid languages from West and Central Africa.