What is an obeah woman?

Question

I'm reading Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid and an "obeah woman" was mentioned..

Answer 1

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Obeah is a term used in the West Indies to refer to folk magic or sorcery. While the term may be used in a general sense, it is mainly used in reference to negative or black magic, and to religious practices derived from various West and Central African origins, such as Voodoo, Santeria and the Orisha faith. The word Obeah is also used in part, with any religious practicies such as Hindu puja and so. But in some Caribbean territories, such as Trinidad, the word Obeah is also associated with the Spiritual Baptist religion. Obeah is also related to anything dealing with blood, blood sacrificing etc. However unlike its Spanish and Brazilian counter-parts, the Spiritual Baptist religion does not involve sacrifice.

Obeah is practiced in the Bahamas and many Christians there include elements of obeah in their religion.

In the Virgin Islands, Obeah is associated with both black and white magic, and with mysticism in general. One aspect which many visitors to the islands may be familiar with (although not aware of) is the Mocko-Jumbie, or stilt dancer.

In the Obeah tradition, a Jumbie is an evil or lost spirit, related to the Kongo word Nzumbi, which led to the sensationalistic Zombies of Hollywood. Jumbie however, retains more of the word's original meaning. It is sometimes associated with a child who has died before being baptized. Such a child is said to be forced to forever walk the earth at night, and is easily identified by its backward-facing feet. By contrast, the Mocko-Jumbie is brightly colored, dances in the daylight, and is very much alive. The Mocko-Jumbie also represents the flip-side of spiritual darkness, as stilt-dancing is most popular around holy days and Carnival.

Answer 2

NOUN: 1. A form of religious belief of African origin, practiced in some parts of the West Indies, Jamaica, and nearby tropical America, involving sorcery.