Ebbioso Arará – Dance

Hebioso (in Matanzas Jebbioso Aná Ma) is the Arará foddún who corresponds to Changó. He goes back to Xɛvioso (Hevioso), the Fon god of thunder, lightning and rain in Dahomey.

In Cuba

  • Names: Jebbioso Aná Ma in Matanzas, Jovellanos and Cárdenas; Acuoso in Perico.
  • Saint: he is syncretised with Saint Barbara (4 December), but regarded as male.
  • Colours: red and white, like Changó.

For Changó's dance, see the Changó page.

Xɛvioso among the Fon

  • Domain: thunder, lightning and rain. He punishes liars, thieves and villains by striking them.
  • Double axe: the two-bladed axe is his central symbol, in shrines and ritual dances; the blades stand for destruction (lightning) and creation (rain).
  • Thunderstones and ram: black stones found after storms are seen as his "arrows"; the ram is his principal animal manifestation.

📝 Sources