Religion in Guyana
Obeah and Amerindian Practices
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A number of folk beliefs continue to be practiced in Guyana. Obeah, a folk religion
of African origin, incorporates beliefs and practices of all the immigrant groups.
Obeah practitioners may be Afro-Guyanese or Indo-Guyanese, and members of all the
ethnic groups consult them for help with problems concerning health, work, domestic
life, and romance. Some villagers wear charms or use other folk practices to protect
themselves from harm
Traditional Amerindian religious beliefs vary, but shamans play a significant
role in all of them. The shaman is believed to communicate with the world of spirits
in order to detect sorcery and combat evil. The shaman is also a healer and an adviser,
the representative of the village to the spiritual world and sometimes its political
leader as well. Missionary activity to the Amerindians has been intense. As a result,
the traditional beliefs and practices of all the Amerindian groups have been modified;
some have even disappeared.
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