Agassou
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Agassou
(Monsieur
Agassou, Yon Sue, Vert Agassou)
Agassou, or Monsieur Agassou
as he is sometimes called in New Orleans, is a spirit of
African origin, said to be the offspring of a divine mating
between a spotted panther and Princess Aligbonoun of Togo.
In the most simplistic descriptions of this loa, he is
defined as the guardian of the traditions of Dahomey and the
Royal Leopard King of Africa. Further discussion about this
loa with practitioners of related African-derived traditions
and research into his background reveals a much more complex
story.
Agassou is characterized
differently among traditions and African regions. According
to some Haitians, Agassou is sometimes represented by a crab
and considered a companion of Met Agwe. According to African
informants, the crab represents Mami Wata, the spirit that
came from the Mina/Ewe people of Togo.
In New Orleans, Tallant (1946),
Pitkin (1904), and Ellis (1965) all report that Saint Anthony of
Padua is petitioned as Yon Sue or Monsieur Agassou and that he
manifests as a great guardian who protects Voodooists from those who
would interfere with their freedom to
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worship the spirits of Africa. The
confusion here is about who is actually being petitioned and
how syncretization works. A particular Catholic saint being
syncretized with an African spirit does not make the two one
and the same. The descendents of Agassou who choose to seek
help from Yon Sue are not confused about who they are
working with. Agassou is petitioned for protection and for
money. I would suggest using his vévé along with a statue of
St. Anthony of Padua and a figure of a spotted panther or
leopard when working with him.
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