Chapter 4 - Ogou Summary and Analysis

There are many different subdivisions of Ogou: Sen Jak Maje, Panama, Feray, Badagri, Yamson and Ageou. McCarthy Brown says of Alourdes in this chapter that at times she claims there are seven Ogou, at times there are twenty-one. Ogou Badagri, the shy, handsome, brave and loyal, is Alourdes's chief counselor from the spirit world - her "met tet" or 'master of her head'. There are many lessons to learn from Ogou, and his position in traditional Haitian religion is pivotal. When Alourdes is possessed by Ogou, the sword is always wielded and the message is always that while power liberates, it also betrays and can destroy those who wield it, as earlier demonstrated in the story of Alphonse Macena. Ogou also teaches that in order to live, one must fight. This message is particularly poignant in the...