| The Loa are the
children of Lusa (Lisa) and Mawu, members of an extra-dimensional race
of beings known as the Orishas who were worshipped as gods by the
natives of ancient Africa. The Orishas were the deities of the myriad
Afrikaan tribes of Africa, but by in the 17th Century, Europeans
invading the continent began abducting and taking whole tribes to use as
servile servants or slaves in Europe and the Americas. Many slaves were
removed from the Yoruba, Fon, Ewe, Dahomey tribes of Africa to use as
slaves. Several Afrikaans were treated respectively, but countless more
were reduced to servile positions with little or no regard to their
human conditions. The Africans called out to their ancient deities for
solace, even combining tenets of Catholicism and the Holy Roman Church
into their rites, and the god Legba rallied his brothers and sisters
into granting hope and promise to their suffering worshippers as the
Loa. Worship of the Loa eventually became the religion of Voodoo through
the descendants of the Africans removed from their homeland although the
gods Damballah and
Sagbata
introduced some sinister and malevolent
aspects to the religion. Today, Voodoo and its rival practice of
Santeria is practiced in most of the Caribbean and along the Gulf of Mexico
down into South America. Most worshippers of Voodoo are African in
origin, although some people of European descent have tapped into the
darker arts of the religion for materialistic gains. Some of the most
powerful practitioners of Voodoo are Jericho Drumm and
Marie LaVeau.
The Loa possess the conventional physical attributes
of the African gods. Like all of the African gods, they are
exceptionally long-lived, but they are not immortal: they tend to age
extremely slowly since reaching adulthood and cannot die by any
conventional means. They are immune to all Earthly diseases and are
resistant to conventional injury. If somehow wounded, a Loa's godly life
force would enable them to recover with superhuman speed. It would take
an injury of such magnitude that it dispersed a major portion of their
bodily molecules to cause a physical death. Even then, it might be
possible for a god of significant power, such as Nyambe
or for a number of African gods of equal power working
together to revive him. Each of the Loa also possesses some measure of
superhuman strength and their Orishas metabolism provide them with far
greater than human endurance in all physical activities. (Orishas flesh
and bone is about three times as dense as similar human tissue,
contributing to the superhuman strength and weight of the African gods.)
Several members of the Loa have the ability to tap
into and manipulate mystical energies, usually some where along the
lines of their position or expertise, i.e. Damballah can tap into the
power of the underworld while Shango can manipulate the forces of the
weather. The majority of the Loa have certain powers in common such as
traveling between dimensions, such as from Ala to Earth, and altering
their appearance.
The majority of the Loa are described here. Shango,
Damballah
and Sagbata
have entries elsewhere.
First Appearance: (individually)
Thor I Annual 12, (as a group) Doctor Strange III #18
|
|
AVLEKETE
Real Name: Avlekete
Occupation: Goddess of the sea
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Avlekete except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Aylekete (variant name), Oba Do (Dahoman
name), Avrikriti (Fon name)
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: Married
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Olokun
(husband/uncle), Ayaba,
Erzulie,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Gou,
Legba,
Loco,
Maou,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Doctor Strange III #17
History: Avlekete is the goddess
of the sea, daughter of Lusa (Lisa) and Mawu and wife of Olokun, the
sea-god. She supported Legba over giving power of the Loa to a mortal as
a force of good against the evil unleashed by their brother Sagbata.
|
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 385 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Avlekete possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 25 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Avlekete possesses the conventional
physical attributes of the African gods. She also has a mystical ability
to control and manipulate water.
|
|
AYABA
Real Name: Ayaba
Occupation: God of home and hearth
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Ayaba except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Ayapa (Dahoman name)
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Erzulie,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Gou,
Legba,
Loco,
Maou,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Ayaba has yet to
appear in the Marvel or DC Universes.
History: Ayaba is the goddess of
home and the hearth. Her duty was to protecting the home and its
residents.
|
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 385 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Ayaba possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 25 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Ayaba possesses the conventional
attributes of the Gods of Africa. She has minor mystical abilities of an
unknown nature enabling her to cast spells of protection on her
worshippers.
|
|
ERZULIE
Real Name: Oshun (Her Yoruba name; Erzulie
is her Dahoman name)
Occupation: Goddess of love and sexuality
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Erzulie except as a mythological deity. She is well-known
in Africa and to practitioners of Voodoo.
Other Aliases: Erzili (alternate spelling), Erzulie Danto
(Voodoo name)
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: possibly Single
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Ayaba,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Gou,
Legba,
Loco,
Maou,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Tales of the
Zombie #3
History: Erzulie is the goddess
of love and sexuality and daughter of Lusa (Lisa) and Mawu. Counted as
one of the most beautiful of the Loa, she was often compared to the
Olympian Aphrodite
and the Asgardian Freya
and known for sexual affairs with Ogun, Damballah and Olokun in his
guise as the Haitian god Agwe. Erzulie supported Legba over giving power of the Loa to a mortal as a force of
good against the evil unleashed by their brother Sagbata.
|
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 385 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Erzulie possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 25 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Erzulie possesses the conventional
attributes of the Gods of Africa. She can also tap into and manipulate
mystical energies allowing her to control the emotions of others and to
create love spells and enchantments.
|
|
ESCHU
Real Name: Eschu Carrefour
Occupation: God of mischief
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Eschu except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Esu (Edo name), Eshu (Dahoman), Olusi (Yoruba name), Sigidi
(mystical name), Esu Carefour (Voodoo name), Trickster-god
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: possibly Single
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Ayaba,
Erzulie,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Gou,
Legba,
Loco,
Maou,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Doctor Strange III #17
History: Eschu is the
trickster-god and son of Lusa (Lisa) and Mawu. Often sent to test the
true characteristics of mortals, he primarily served as a servant of
Oloddumare. He supported Legba over
giving power of the Loa to a mortal as a force of good against the evil
unleashed by their brother Sagbata. His sacred animal is the dog.
|
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Eschu possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 30 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Eschu possesses the conventional
attributes of the Gods of Africa. He also possesses latent abilities to
tap into manipulate mystical energies, but to an unknown degree.
|
|
FAA
Real Name: Ifa (her Yoruba name; Faa is
her Dahomey name)
Occupation: Goddess of destiny and prophecy
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Faa except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: None
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Ayaba,
Erzulie
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Gou,
Legba,
Loco,
Maou,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Faa has yet to
appear in the Marvel or DC Universes.
History: Faa is the goddess
of destiny and prophecy. Endowed with gifts of prophecy, she weighed the
souls of mortals who had died to determine their fate in the afterlife.
She also granted
visions upon those who knew how to call upon her.
|
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 385 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Faa possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 25 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Faa possesses the conventional
attributes of the Gods of Africa. She also has limited abilities to
practice magic. She is also a powerful clairvoyant capable of glimpsing
possible but not improbable alternate futures which she can
telepathically share with her worshippers.
|
|
GOU
Real Name: Gou
Occupation: God of the moon and war
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Gou except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Ge, Gei, Gu, Gua (alternate names), Bo (Ewe
name)
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Ayaba,
Erzulie,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Legba,
Loco,
Maou,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Doctor Strange III #17
History: Gou is the god of the moon
and son of Lusa (Lisa) and Mawu. Also revered as a god of war, he supported Legba over giving
power of the Loa to a mortal as a force of good against the evil
unleashed by their brother Sagbata.
|
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Gou possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 45 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Gou possesses the conventional
attributes of the Gods of Africa. He has greater strength, stamina,
endurance and resistance to injury than the majority of the
Orishas.
|
|
LEGBA
Real Name: Eleggua (His Yoruba name; Legba
is his Dahoman name)
Occupation: Chief of the Loa, god of roads and travelers
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Legba except as a mythological deity. He is well-known in
Africa and to practitioners of Voodoo.
Other Aliases: Sogblen (Ewe name)
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Ayaba,
Erzulie,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Gou,
Loco,
Maou,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Doctor Strange III #17
History: Legba is the Chief of
the Loa and god of roads and travelers, and son of Lusa (Lisa) and Mawu,
who often sent him to convey messages from Afe to Earth. He was also master of the Loa and his duties involved escorting mortal
souls to a peaceful afterlife after physical death. After Sagbata
invoked Chthon the Elder God, he joined forces with the other gods of
the Vodu to create a force of good against the evil unleashed by his
brother. He gave the mortal man, Laureant, power of the Loa by means of
an ultimate spell he obtained from Gaea, the Earth mother. Laureant then
became the original Brother Voodoo, the first mortal lord of the Loa.
|
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Legba possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 40 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Legba possesses the conventional attributes
of the Gods of Africa. He also has mystical abilities to tap into and
manipulate mystical energies. He is possibly the most invoked Loa in
Voodoo and can open portals between dimensions, cast spells and hexes,
induce illusions and cast his voice and image across great distances.
|
|
LOCO
Real Name: Loco
Occupation: God of health and medicine
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Loco except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Oko (Dahoman name), Loko (Fon name), Laoka (Pokot
and Suk name), Loko Attiso (Voodoo name)
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status:
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Ayaba,
Erzulie,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Gou,
Legba,
Maou,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Loco has yet to
appear in the Marvel or DC Universes.
History: Loco is the god of
health and medicine. He had a variety of names to protect and cure his
worshippers from plague and disease. In this role, he supported Shango
and Legba against the evil of Damballah and Sagbata.
|
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Loco possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 30 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Loco possesses the conventional
attributes of the Gods of Africa. He also has mystical abilities
enabling him to cure and heal the sick. He also has precognitive
abilities to deduce the origins of illness even of mystical
origin.
|
|
MAOU
Real Name: Mahou (original spelling)
Occupation: God of the sun
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Maou except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Mahu (alternate spelling)
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Ayaba,
Erzulie,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Gou,
Legba,
Loco,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Doctor Strange III #17
History: Maou is the god of the
sun and the son of Lusa (Lisa) and Mawu. He supported Legba over giving
power of the Loa to a mortal as a force of good against the evil
unleashed by their brother Sagbata.
|
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Maou possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 30 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Maou possesses the conventional
attributes of the Gods of Africa. He can also mystically create light
and heat equivalent to a small sun.
|
|
OGUN
Real Name: Ogoun (Ogun is the modern
spelling)
Occupation: God of iron and weapons, patron god of blacksmiths
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Ogun except as a mythological deity. He is well-known in
Africa and to practitioners of Voodoo.
Other Aliases: Agomme Tonnere (Voodoo name)
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: possibly Single
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Ayaba,
Erzulie,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Gou,
Legba,
Loco,
Maou,
Sagbata,
Shango,
Zaca
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Doctor Strange III #17
History: Ogun is the
blacksmith-god of iron and son of Lusa (Lisa) and Mawu. He was also a
god of warriors and hunters, and when Oludumare visited Earth for the
first time, he was the only deity prepared with a machete to cleave a
way through the wilderness to lead the gods. He supported
Legba over giving power of the Loa to a mortal as a force of good
against the evil unleashed by their brother Sagbata.
|
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Ogun possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 35 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Ogun possesses the conventional
attributes of the Gods of Africa. He has limited mystical abilities to
cast enchantments on mystical objects.
|
|
ZACA
Real Name: Zaca
Occupation: God of the
harvest and agriculture
Legal Status: Citizen of Afe
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the
existence of Zaca except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: None known
Place of Birth: Oyo, Yoruba Territory (modern Nigeria)
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Lusa (father), Mawu (mother), Avlekete,
Ayaba,
Erzulie,
Faa
(sisters), Damballah,
Eschu,
Gou,
Legba,
Loco,
Maou,
Ogun,
Sagbata,
Shango
(brothers), Nyambe,
Olokun, Orunjan (uncles), Ananse,
Mmoatia, Mmoboro, Onini, Osebo (cousins), Obatala (grandfather), Odudua
(grandmother), Buluku
(great-grandfather), Gaea
(great-grandmother, alias Nana)
Group Affiliation: The Vodu, The Gods of
Africa
Base of Operations: Afe
First Appearance: Zaca has yet to
appear in the Marvel or DC Universes.
History: Zaca is the god of the
harvest and agriculture. His worshippers called upon him to ensure a
bountiful harvest and the fertility of the earth. He opposed Sagbata in
his personification of drought and pestilence on earth.
|
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Zaca possesses superhuman strength enabling her
to lift (press) 30 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Zaca possesses the conventional attributes
of the Gods of Africa. He also has mystical abilities enabling him to
control the prosperity of plants, particularly wheat and corn, and the
properties of the soil it grows.
|