the Curse of 27

Robert Johnson

the Curse of 27

Legend tells us that Mississippi-born Robert Johnson went down to the crossroads and sold his soul to the devil in exchange for the ability to play the guitar like no one had ever heard before. No one can say for certain whether or not the devil exists, but one thing is certain: Robert Johnson played the guitar (and sang) like no one had ever heard before, and left his mark on several generations of blues players since. An authentic American original, Johnson's musical innovations influenced the blues, rock 'n' roll, R&B, country & Western, gospel and folk styles. He died -- reportedly after being poisoned by the husband of a woman he was courting -- August 16, 1938.

Eleggua, Exu, Elegba is the Orisha of the Crossroads. In Ifá, the spiritual practice that crossed the Atlantic with people from various tribes, and nations to be sold into slavery throughout the Americas, Elegba is the Orisha that has to be honored at the beginning of ceremonies with other Orishas. Exu, or Elegba is a trickster sitting at the Crossroads. In places, like Brazil, with high African spirituality present in the land and the air, offerings, and small altars are all over the place and one needs be, at the least, mindful of these things, and at the most respectful of the powerful energies of this Orisha. Exu can hurt or help you.

In North America where African spirituality, and its deeply rooted sensitivity and connection to the Earth, and other realms of power are reduced to the boogey man, the Devil, and Evil, Black Americans became the proverbial lost souls. Unable to recognize their own power, connect with their spiritual legacies, afraid of white people, and dominated by the Church who replaced their image of self with their own image Blues lore talked about Robert Johnson in whispers, and saw him in the dark, not in any light whatsoever!


"He sold his soul to the Devil to play the guitar like he did!"


In the street vernacular that's bullshit. I use the vernacular to convey how foul such assertions are, and how detrimental to the soul our language has become. If the story is true about the African spirituality the Portuguese, and the Spaniards respected and feared we have the reason African spiritual traditions flourished in Central and South America, and we have the essence of Robert Johnson in focus. He, apparently, was in relationship with the roots of his legacy and made the proper offerings to Elegba at the crossroads to fortify his life journey. I do not know what Orishas sat atop Robert Johnson’s head, but I do know he was an ‘African spiritual man’. It takes spiritual power that does not conform to form to live at the level of commitment Robert Johnson lived. It’s in his music; his story-powers! Robert Johnson's lesson and gift to the African grandchildren of ex-slaves was not lost on them. It was lost on the church-going, white people fearing, superstitious, frighten small minded, and feeble hearted Negroes, and colored folks who cowered before the frightful power of a Black man attuned to his African soul, and the powers of the worlds he had assess to coming together because of the words he formed around the intent of his being, and the content of his purpose on Earth, his Mother." ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories