Oh Dambala come Dambala
Oh Dambala come Dambala
Think of the wings of a three toed frog
Eat weeds from the deepest part of sea
Oh Dambala come Dambala
Oh Dambala come Dambala
On the seventh day God will be there
On the seventh night satan will be there
On the seventh day God will be there
On the seventh night satan will be there
You slavers will know
What its like to be a slave
Slave to your heart
Slave to your soul
Oh Dambala come Dambala
Oh Dambala come Dambala
You slavers will know what its
Like to be a slave
Slave to your mind
Slave to your race
You won't go to heaven
You won't go to hell
You remain in your graves
With the stench and the smell
Oh Dambala come Dambala
Oh Dambala come Dambala
Oh Dambala come Dambala
Think of the wings of a three toed frog
Eat weeds from the deepest part of sea
Oh Dambala come Dambala
Oh Dambala come Dambala
On the seventh day God will be there
On the seventh night satan will be there
On the seventh day God will be there
On the seventh night satan will be there
You slavers will know
What its like to be a slave
Slave to your heart
Slave to your soul
Oh Dambala come Dambala
Oh Dambala come Dambala
You slavers will know what its
Like to be a slave
Slave to your mind
Slave to your race
You won't go to heaven
You won't go to hell
You remain in your graves
With the stench and the smell
Oh Dambala come Dambala
Oh Dambala come Dambala
This song was recorded by Tony "Obeah Man" Mackay for his "Exuma" record, and also recorded by American blues legend Nina Simone. Tony Mackay, also known as simply "Exuma" wrote many songs about obeah, a belief system that emphasises a traditional knowledge of herbs, rituals, poisons and interaction with natural spirits. The entire "Exuma" album draws heavily on Mackay's attraction to traditional Bahamian obeah, a practice maintained in his hometown of Cat Island, Bahamas.
OBEAH is related to voodoo, and both are of African origin and reflect a non-Christian or hybrid way of thinking that connects humans to the earth and unseen elements. It is a folk religion that was brought over by African slaves during the dark periods of our history, and because of the white slavemasters' fear of what they did not understand and could not control, obeah was outlawed in many parts of the Caribbean. Most people are completely ignorant and therefore afraid of obeah, and in truth it is a serious practice that should not be taken lightly nor discredited as mumbo jumbo. Hollywood depictions focus on the zombie aspects of Haitian and Lousiana voodoo, which are both darker and much different, while drawing attention away from helpful and indigenous benefits of herbs and healing.
WHO IS DAMBALA? Dambala, or Damballah-Wedo is the highest of the voodoo gods, the Sky God and creator of all others from whom all other spirits descend. Represented by a snake, he is associated with the absence of defilement in the colour white and the purification qualities of water and rain. Thursday is his day. As a creation god, he signifies peace and harmony and is called upon to remove negative energies and to regenerate new beginnings.
"Damballah rules the mind, intellect, and cosmic equilibrium. Damballah is the patron protector of the handicapped, deformed, cripples, albinos, and young children. When he presents himself in possession, he does not talk, but makes hissing and whistling noises[1] like a snake in Rada rite. But in Haitian Petro loa he is known as "Dumballah Nan Flambo," and it is believed he can be heard "speaking through a flame". He is syncretised with the Catholic figures of St. Patrick who drove snakes out of Ireland, Christ the Redeemer, Our Lady of Mercy, and, sometimes, with Moses whose staff turned into a serpent." - wikipedia
WHO IS DAMBALA? Dambala, or Damballah-Wedo is the highest of the voodoo gods, the Sky God and creator of all others from whom all other spirits descend. Represented by a snake, he is associated with the absence of defilement in the colour white and the purification qualities of water and rain. Thursday is his day. As a creation god, he signifies peace and harmony and is called upon to remove negative energies and to regenerate new beginnings.
"Damballah rules the mind, intellect, and cosmic equilibrium. Damballah is the patron protector of the handicapped, deformed, cripples, albinos, and young children. When he presents himself in possession, he does not talk, but makes hissing and whistling noises[1] like a snake in Rada rite. But in Haitian Petro loa he is known as "Dumballah Nan Flambo," and it is believed he can be heard "speaking through a flame". He is syncretised with the Catholic figures of St. Patrick who drove snakes out of Ireland, Christ the Redeemer, Our Lady of Mercy, and, sometimes, with Moses whose staff turned into a serpent." - wikipedia
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