- JLU spelling
- obia
What “Obeah” means
Obeah refers to spiritual practices of African origin in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, involving healing, protection, and the use of spiritual power to influence events. In popular talk it is often associated with casting spells or harm, which is why accusing someone of "working obeah" is serious.
Examples
Dem seh im go to a obeah man.
They say he went to an obeah practitioner.
How to use it
A sensitive subject. Some people view it with fear or disapproval, while scholars see it as part of the African spiritual heritage that enslaved people kept alive. Treat it with respect rather than as a joke or a horror story.
Cultural context
Colonial authorities criminalised obeah, notably after Tacky's Rebellion in 1760, in which obeah practitioners were said to have played a part. Laws against it continued into modern times. Practices and attitudes vary widely across communities.
Where it comes from
West African; the word traces to West African roots, but the exact source language is debated.