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 Gran Simba is the mother of the Simbi nation. In Descent of the Loa by Deita (Mercedes Guignard), Papa Simbi says:
"Ma femme est la Grann dlo, Manman Simba. Elle ne se manifeste presque pas. Elle a trop a faire. Cependant elle prend soin de mes visiteurs. Dans une ceremonie, on n'oubliera jamais de
citer Grann Dlo et les sen dlo, nos 40 filles qui comme moi sont de la nanchon Congo. Grann simba protege contre les courants, guide les passeurs durant crues de rivieres, escarte les arbes
deracines par le vent sur leur passage."
Papa Simbi approuva. Il hocha la tete. Il reprit en langage et mon guide traduisit. Grann Simba
sauve de la mort ceux qui tombent dans l'eau par accident. Mais si c'est la volonte de Dieu qui agit, elle laissera faire. Car aucun Loa n'a le droit de contrecarrier les desseins de Deiu. Si la
noyade est le prodcuit de la mechancete des hommes Grann Simba s'y opposera en rescapant le noye."
I think the last part has to do with Gran Simba saving folks from drowning, but not if it goes
against the will of God. But if men are willing to do one another in, then, she will oblige them as well. !
Gran Simba is a house Lwa here at Sosyete du Marche. We syncretized her with St. Anne de Beaupre, and her colors are copper  red and lime green. Interestingly, the Haitian artist Herza Barjon has painted her in the same color palette, with
peacock blue arms, green and copper horns. Both my parents were devoted to St. Anne de Beaupre - they spent their honeymoon at her shrine in Quebec, Canada. This particular St. Anne
is like all the major black Madonnas of the world - she was found at Sea, she is black, but has been painted to look white (those Canadians, what clowns...), she has a child in her arms and
she is the patron saint of sailors in Canada.
She is also purported to be the source of major healing miracles. It is said that if you climb the
stairs (about 150 stone steps) on your knees to ask a favor of the Saint, she will grant it to you. (It's that, or you are hallucinating from the pain.) In either event, the stairs to her shrine are
littered with crutches, braces, wheelchairs and artificial limbs that were tossed off after folks were cured. Pretty strong magic.
My parents went to ask for my father to be relieved of a particular ailment. Result - he was cured, and he painted her image
on windows and doors for the rest of his life. The last image he made of her was in stained glass for the church he attended. So, she's a big presence in my life, and now in the society.
Gran Simba arrived here through a message given to me by Simbi Makaya. Makaya told me she
wished to be served by me. He proceeded to give me the langaj to call her. I was stunned - this was totally unexpected for me. So, the next service, we did just that - I called her via the langaj,
thinking that nothing would happen. Gran Simba came and took the head of a visitor, knocking her to the ground and slithering under the altar, with a firm grip on my ankle. I dropped to my
knees, and was given instructions to follow for another service. I did as was requested, and she has appeared twice since then - once in my head, with the same result - I slithered under the
altar, and spoke only to Don. And once, an escort spirit came, approved and accepted the offerings for Gran Simba, gave water blessings to folks present, danced with everyone and
departed without saying much - although afterwards, all the men told me in confidence they had all had a very strong sexual response to her presence! Interesting...
I envision Gran Simba as a crowned snake (because St. Anne is wearing a gold crown), in
shimmering copper and green scales (St. Anne's colors), very regal, very remote. She is definitely a water Lwa, being Kongo to start with, and with her earthly attributes having to do
with water (sailors, drowning men, etc.) And she would be surrounded by her daughters. St. Anne in Catholic hagiography is the mother of Mary the Virgin. St. Anne de Beaupre is dressed in copper and green, a large
gold crown on her head, standing on the water of the world and holding a small girl child, dressed in blue and gold in her
arms. Just seems to make sense to me. I've not heard about her through Haitian channels. This one is a personal Lwa for me
. But she has been appearing to folks in the house, so now she's a house Lwa, with interest in others.
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