Papa Legba, voodoo god of the crossroads, stands at the road to the spirit world. He is the intermediary between the loa and human beings. He took pity on mankind and taught them the use of oracles and how to interpret them.

Often depicted as an old, crippled man or gardener, he is also called just Legba or Legba Ati-Bon. The dog serves as his familiar and symbolic animal. During any vodun ceremony he is the first loa invoked--so that the gate to the spirit world may be opened for communication.