Salt, Rice, and Sorghum: Evading and Embracing the Soucouyant
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
with Dr. Giselle Liza Anatol
In this knowledge share, Anatol will focus on the folk figure known as a “soucouyant” in Trinidad, and, in other parts of the African diaspora, as Old Hige or Old Hag, boo hag, azeman, volant, loogaroo, obayifo, and a host of other names. This creature appears in the community as an old woman during the day, but at night she sheds her skin, transforms into a ball of fire, and flies from house to house to suck the blood or life-force of her neighbors. It is said that rice, salt, or sorghum sprinkled on front stoops, doorways, windowsills, and village crossroads can protect sleepers from a soucouyant’s attack.
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
with Dr. Giselle Liza Anatol
In this knowledge share, Anatol will focus on the folk figure known as a “soucouyant” in Trinidad, and, in other parts of the African diaspora, as Old Hige or Old Hag, boo hag, azeman, volant, loogaroo, obayifo, and a host of other names. This creature appears in the community as an old woman during the day, but at night she sheds her skin, transforms into a ball of fire, and flies from house to house to suck the blood or life-force of her neighbors. It is said that rice, salt, or sorghum sprinkled on front stoops, doorways, windowsills, and village crossroads can protect sleepers from a soucouyant’s attack.
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
with Dr. Giselle Liza Anatol
In this knowledge share, Anatol will focus on the folk figure known as a “soucouyant” in Trinidad, and, in other parts of the African diaspora, as Old Hige or Old Hag, boo hag, azeman, volant, loogaroo, obayifo, and a host of other names. This creature appears in the community as an old woman during the day, but at night she sheds her skin, transforms into a ball of fire, and flies from house to house to suck the blood or life-force of her neighbors. It is said that rice, salt, or sorghum sprinkled on front stoops, doorways, windowsills, and village crossroads can protect sleepers from a soucouyant’s attack.