Legba is the fist lwa called in ceremonial order. However, this does not mean he is the paramount or supreme lwa. All the lwa stand on equal ground in Ginen. When I think of Legba and his importance in Vodou liturgy I think of him as the “cosmic traffic cop” of Ginen. It is Legba, and Legba alone who decides which lwa manifests through possession. There is a song sung for Legba during ritualization which illustrates this point: 

Legba nan baye, Legba nan baye,
Legba nan baye a,
Se ou ki pote drapo,
Se ou ki parey soley pou lwa yo. 

Legba in the gate, Legba in the gate,

Legba in the gate

It is you who carry the flag

It is you who shade the sun for the Lwa.

 You will often read that Legba is the husband of Ayizan. However, this isn’t true. In fact Legba is married to a little known lwa named Adjesi. Because Legba is seen as a very old man who can barely walk Adjesi will sometimes come into possession with Legba so that she can be there to support him and help him walk. There is a song which is often sung in the Vodou liturgy which supports this:

 Adjesi O! Madanm Papa Legba,
Adjesi O! Madanm Papa Legba,
Adjesi O! Madanm Papa Legba,
Se ou ki kanpe anrezo!

 Adjesi oh! Wife of Papa Legba,
Adjesi oh! Wife of Papa Legba,
Adjesi oh! Wife of Papa Legba,
It's you who stands in support! 

Legba in Rada is most commonly called “Legba Atibon” or “Legba vye zo”. However, there are many different variations to the lwa Legba.  Legba is a spirit who comes directly form ancient Dahomey, or present day Bénin. While in Dahomey Legba was often seen as a child – the youngest child of the supreme twins, Mawu-Lisa. However, in Haiti Legba is seen as a very old man, as is illustrated by his name “Legba vye zo”.  

In the north, Legba is often served with the color brown and is sometimes clothed in a burlap type fabric. However, in the south where I had most of my training Legba is generally served with the colors white and red. When I serve Legba in Rada I tend to use more white than red and when I serve him in Petro I tend to use more red than white. But that is a personal choice that I made based on my preoccupation with ritual aesthetics.  

Most often Legba in Rada is depicted with the image of St. Lazarus. However, I have seen him represented several times by St. Peter, while Legba in Petro is often associated with St. Anthony or St. Expedite.  

In Rada Legba drinks rum seeped with certain herbs and molasses (siwo), while Legba nan Petro drinks Kleren (raw cane liquor, sold as aquardiente in the United States).

 When offering Legba a serious service it should be done on his sacred day – Wednesday. And you should be prepared to offer him a feast fit for this lwa! His food should always be roasted or grilled. He likes plantains, yams, and red and white speckled roosters, or a male red and white goat. Since Adjesi isn't served alone she often eats with Legba so some people will often kill a red and white hen along with Legba's sacrifices so they can simultaneously feed his wife -- Adjesi. Along with these foods he is also given fresh fruits, hard candies, roasted peanuts and roasted corn. Because the crossroads are sacred to Legba many people will cook for him then put all his foods in a djacout (a straw bag) and place the straw bag, along with a bottle of rum, in the crossroads.

 Legba in Rada is often served with a pipe and tobacco and a stick or cane called a “baton Legba”. In Haiti these batons are usually painted with red and black alternating horizontal stripes, while Legba in Petro is often given a whistle and a cigar.