The Petwo, also spelled Petro or dompete, are a group of lwa spirits in the religion of Haitian Vodou. They are described as being more intense and "hot," which is the opposite of the Rada lwa, who are calm and "cool."
Description
The Petwo are also called the Dompete. They are one of the groups, or "nations," of lwa spirits in the Vodou religion. Some people describe the Petwo as a group of gods. Along with the Rada, they are two main groups of lwa that are worshipped by people in Port-au-Prince.
The Petwo spirits are seen as strong and quick to anger. They are described as having harsh, aggressive, and forceful traits. This is different from the Rada lwa, who are seen as kind and trustworthy. Petwo and Rada lwa are kept separate in two ways: their altars are placed in different areas of the ounfo (temple), and they are called upon at different times during rituals. An expert named Karen McCarthy Brown said the difference between Rada and Petwo may show the difference between two types of people, such as family members and outsiders or people who are part of a group and those who are not.
Because of their strong nature, Vodouists treat Petwo lwa with care. They are believed to be very powerful, especially in helping with matters related to money.
A common gift given to Petwo lwa is a mix of rum, coffee, spicy pepper, blood, and gunpowder. The drum beats used in Petwo rituals are fast and loud. These rituals also include small gunpowder explosions, the sound of cracking whips, and the noise of police whistles.
History
Desmangles believed that the Petwo lwa were not gods brought to the Caribbean by enslaved Africans but instead appeared on the island of Hispaniola during the time of slavery. Later studies showed that the Petwo lwa actually came from the spirit groups of the Kongo people in West Central Africa. These spirits, connected to anger and strong emotions, became important during the Haitian Revolution. The stories and beliefs about the Petwo lwa are unique to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, not something passed down directly from Africa.
Examples
Ezili Dantò is a Petwo lwa.
Ogun is a lwa who does not belong clearly to either the Petwo or Rada nanchon. Although he carries weapons, which are connected to the Petwo, he is seen as someone who protects Rada values.