Duppy

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Duppy is a Jamaican Patois word of West African origin meaning ghost or spirit.^[1] Much of Caribbean folklore revolves around duppies. Duppies are generally regarded as malevolent spirits.^[1] They are said to come out and haunt people at night mostly, and people from the islands claim to have seen them. The 'Rolling Calf',^[2] 'Three footed horse' or 'Old Higue'^[3] are examples of the more malicious spirits.

1 Origins
2 Pop culture references
3 References
4 Further reading
5 External links

[edit] Origins

Duppy folklore originates in West Africa. A duppy can be either the manifestation (in human or animal form) of the soul of a dead person, or a malevolent supernatural being.^[4] in Jamaica, a person is believed to possess two souls - a good soul and an earthly soul. In death, the good soul goes to heaven to be judged by God, while the earthly spirit remains for three days in the coffin with the body, where it may escape if proper precautions are not taken, and appear as a duppy.^[4]

[edit] Pop culture references

The term "duppy" has been featured in various musical works from the Caribbean. According to Lee "Scratch" Perry, after Bob Marley wrote the song "My Cup," Marley was complaining to Lee that he was too "successful" and was being plagued by hangers-on and leeches, referring to them as duppies in the context of 'human vampires' (as in scroungers). Lee apparently consoled him by saying, "Look, we'll sort this out- we are duppy conquerors." Bob then proceeded to write "Duppy Conqueror". The term "duppy" is also referenced in the song "Mr. Brown." Several other Jamaican artists have recorded songs that refer to Duppies, including Bunny Wailer's "Duppy Gun", and Ernie Smith's "Duppy Gun-Man". Yellowman released an album titled Duppy or Gunman.^[5] There was also a Drum & Bass single written by the duo Chase & Status and Capleton called "Duppy Man", with the track "Top Shotta" on the b-side. It was released on the Breakbeat Kaos label in 2005.

Duppies appear as common enemies in the Acclaim video game Shadow Man (available for Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation, Sega Dreamcast, and PC). In it, they appear as cadaverous humanoid creatures that attack at close range with their claws and from a distance by projectile vomiting projectiles of green goo. There is also a secret in the game that you can unlock which will allow you to change Shadow Man's appearance so that he looks like a Duppy himself (the "Play as Duppy" cheat).^{[citation needed]}