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The Origin of Fa: Dahomean System of Divination

This is about a man whose name was Kakpo. This happened in Tendji.¹
In the early days, Loko was an ordinary tree. There was this poor man who made hoe handles. He used to go to the bush to cut down the trees to get wood. Once he found a good tree to cut. He cut at the Loko.
Then Loko said to him, "Do not cut me down. No man must cut me down."
Now, there are three vodun who live in the Loko tree. Da is the first, Dangbe is the second, and the third is the Tohwiyo of the Ayato clan.²
Now, Loko had seven kinds of small double calabashes. Good. Now Loko said to the poor man, "Turn your back to me." Loko said to him, "If I give you wealth, will you do what I command you to do?"
Now the poor man said to him, "Yes."
Loko gave him seven of the little double calabashes and said to him, "Find a good place, and break one on the ground." He said, "If I give you riches will you give me an ox yearly?"
Now, that place where the poor man had broken the first calabash became sacred. He then broke a second one. Many houses appeared. When he broke the third, the houses were
surrounded by walls. With the fourth, hammocks appeared and the stools for the needs of a king. He broke the fifth, and he saw many people inside the houses. He broke the sixth, and he saw horses appear. He mounted a horse. He broke the seventh and he found Fa and Legba. Now he became king. These were the men themselves, Fa and Legba, and not just the things for worshiping them.

But Kakpo did not give to Loko the ox which he had promised him.

Now, Loko changes into a man. He is wearing a raffia cloth,³ and he comes to this man to ask him for a drink of water. He found the Minga of this man who had become king. Loko asked for the master. The Minga said, "Get out of here. What kind of man is this who wears a raffia cloth?

Good. Now Loko went away. He came back a second time. The Minga beat him, beat him with a whip. He went away. And now he came back for the third time. The villagers were busy cultivating for the chief. They beat him again. Now, Loko began to sing a song,

Put down the hoes, Come at once, and dance for me, You dancers who dance well. [⁴]


Good. Now Loko sang so, and as he sang, all at once all the people who were cultivating disappeared. The chief became poor again. Loko left him only a raffia cloth. Now, Fa left to return to the kingdom of Fe.
Now the poor man went again to Loko. He went down on the earth before him and put dust on his forehead. He begged and begged him to forgive him. "I will give you the ox which I promised you." Loko refused.
That is why there are poor people among the black people.

1. A village near Abomey.
2. The founder of a clan of Yoruba origin.
3. Native cloth worn by the poor.
4. Record No. 109

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