Folklore

Duppies

‘Duppies’ are restless spirits of the dead that are believed to haunt the living. Though there are good and bad spirits, the ‘duppy’ is seen as malevolent because the good spirits cannot be seen. The good spirit is sometimes referred to as ancestral spirits, who are believed to be dead family members who still take an interest in the life of family members. Contrary to the good spirit, the ‘duppy’ is seen as the unnamed, unhappy, and restless dead human who is capable of doing harm. The ‘duppy’ can linger around or be summoned by an obeah-man or woman from the graveyard to do harm in exchange for payment of food or drink, especially rum. ‘Duppies’ are said to live at the roots of cotton trees and bamboo thickets, from where they emerge in the nights or at midday.

Ol' Hige

This creature is believed to be a witch or sorceress, who enjoys human and preys especially on infants. Also referred to in days gone by as “Old Suck”, Ol' Hige preys whilst people are sleeping; flying in the form of an owl, shedding her skin and sucking their breath. It is also believed that the Ol' Hige figure contributed to the retention of keeping ninth nights in Jamaica when a baby was born: ensuring that mother and infant will not be troubled by Ol’ Hige in the future. She is also present in West Africa among the Yoruba and other  societies in the Diaspora.

The O.B!

The O.B! or West Indian Astrologers was a secret art and system of prediction by planetary influence. It involved the use of charms, spells,  incantatations, love presents and bewitching secrets as well as fortune telling by cards, dice, tea and coffee. There was the observation of good and ill fortune relating to the days, weeks or months of embarking on important engagements, particularly marriage

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Updated: 30 April 2008

Source: National Library of Jamaica