Episode 58: Honoring and Loving on the 21 Nanchons of Haitian Vodou

In this special episode, we start with Pawòl Pouvwa (Word of Power) by breaking down how spirits are organized in Haitian Vodou. We explain key terms like rites, escorts, nanchons, and fanmi, and how these groupings help people understand relationships between the lwa.From there, we explore the importance of the “plus 1” concept in Vodou numerology, looking at how it reflects balance, connection, and the idea that spiritual systems are not always fixed or limited to what is immediately visible.Instead of deducing the lwas into the main categories as commonly heard, we want to name each nanchon.   We take the time to deconstruct the 21 nanchons of lwa as we know them, discussing their geographic origins in Africa and why this classification is more complex than it may first appear.We are going to say the names of the nanchons as we know them for a variety of reasons.  Naming the nanchons honors the African origins of the tradition. These names connect Vodou back to specific peoples, regions, and cultures that were brought to Haiti through the transatlantic slave trade. Saying their name keeps that history alive and resists the erasure caused by colonialism. Calling the names of the nanchons is about relationship and respect as a form of spiritual activation and remembrance. It connects listeners to ancestral memory and reinforces identity.  This final reflection invites listeners to think more deeply about lineage, migration, and how Vodou continues to hold multiple layers of history and meaning.Keywords: Haitian Vodou, nanchon, Vodou nations, lwa, naming spirits in Vodou, African origins of Vodou, ancestral memory, spiritual remembrance, Vodou cosmology, Vodou lineage, African diaspora religions, decolonizing Vodou, Vodou teachings, spiritual relationships, honoring the lwa