Comments About Sufism, Brujas, Mysticism, & Romani In The Discussion Thread For Jidenna's Video "Sufi Woman"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on the 2019 song "Sufi Woman" by Nigerian-American rapper/singer Jidenna.

Part II presents selected comments about Sufism, and other mystical religious beliefs and practices from the discussion thread of Jidenna's official YouTube video "Sufi Woman". This post also includes examples of comments about the referent "Gypsy". 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/07/nigerian-american-rappersinger-jidenna.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. Part I presents partial lyrics for Jidenna's song "Sufi Woman: and showcases the official YouTube video of that song. Part I also presents selected general comments about that singer/rapper and that song/video from the discussion thread of that video's official YouTube video.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/07/comments-from-nigerians-and-other_25.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. Part III presents selected comments from Nigerians and other Africans from the discussion thread of Jidenna's official YouTube video of "Sufi Woman"

The content of this post is presented for cultural, educational, and religious purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to Jidenna for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who were associated with this music and this video. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. **** SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT RELIGION AND MYSTICISM IN THE DISCUSSION THREAD OF JIDENNA'S SONG "SUFI WOMAN" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7_Yg2BHVpU

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

2019
1.Issa Sesay

"This is so brilliant. This album is literally an expo of African culture and our belief systems especially in regards to spirituality. Sufism is a section of Islam that is more spiritual and gives leeway to self-discovery. It's mostly practiced in the middle east, east Africa and West Africa. Some tribes merge it with voodoo and hoodoo."

**

2. Harun Shields

"MY brother this is an inaccurate representation of sufism"

**
3. mujtaba aliomer
"Sufism, mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God.. most African countries from Sudan to Morocco believe on Sufism as well as me ."

**
4. Porousha Al-Sayyad
"We hav always n still n forever will practice our Persian sufi culture"
** 5. Kirk Taurean
"Shout outs to all the Brujas out there"

**

6. Lala Lady VK
"I recently found out that my great grandmother was a bruja. I found out after slowly finding myself head in that general direction on my way to finding out who I am(what I enjoy, what I understand about the world, how I understand it, how I want to grow and work on myself). My parents let themselves be whitewashed so I didnt grow up speaking my grandparents language and I grew up in a church which taught me to be ashamed of myself and ruined my younger years of having an exciting, fun, and healthy sex life. I am still healing from all of that and still figuring out who I am. This video is beautiful. Jidenna is amazing for reminding everyone about these parts of the culture that have been forced away."

**

7. Raya Cotton
"This song is for our culture 🙌🏾 our Majik is real and original 👁💃🏿🧚🏾‍♀️✨"

**
8. Madeline A. Green
"la hija de la diaspora! bless evry bruja and daughters of yemoya and osun."
-snip-
Google translate from Spanish to English
"la hija de la diaspora" = The daughter of the diaspora"...

"Yemoja" and "Osun" are female orisas (orisha) in the traditional Yoruba religion (Ifa) and its offshoots Santeria, Candomble, etc.

**
REPLY

9. afrochica

"Yes...👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾"

**
REPLY 

10.  Shin
"Asé"

**

11. Conscious Wave
"BIG thanks to Jidenna for showcasing the magick of indigenous spiritualism! BIG UPS TO ALL THE INTUITIVES OUT THERE WORKING THAT MAGICK BY JUST BEING YOU! Brujas y Brujos! ASE'"

**

12. Brooke Danielle King
"This is soooo HOT! Thank you for showing positive vibes toward spirituality! This is awesome for my Ifa and Santería brothers and sisters! Ase! Love you Jidenna you should be more popular though your music is better than drake!! Frfr!!"

-snip-
A number of comments in this discussion thread were the single word "Ase" (pronounced ah-SHAY" by people in the United States). Here's some information about Ase from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%E1%B9%A3%E1%BA%B9#:~:text=Ase%20or%20ashe%20(from%20Yoruba,things%20happen%20and%20produce%20change.
"Ase or ashe (from Yoruba àṣẹ)^[1] is a West African philosophical concept through which the Yoruba of Nigeria Nigeria conceive the power to make things happen and produce change. It is given by Olodumare to everything — gods, ancestors, spirits, humans, animals, plants, rocks, rivers, and voiced words such as songs, prayers, praises, curses, or even everyday conversation. Existence, according to Yoruba thought, is dependent upon it.^[2]

In addition to its sacred characteristics, ase also has important social ramifications, reflected in its translation as "power, authority, command."

** 

13. Fatima Haneef
"Is this not an insult to sufis??"

**
14. _HairFairyGodMother

"Soy la bruja an proud this shyt is the dopest mi gitana baila conmigo"
-snip"
My translation of this comment from Spanish to English
I'm a witch and proud. This shyt is the dopest. [the very best]. My Gypsies dance with me.

 **

15. Foster Ukah
"I dont believe in juju but I love the fact that because ethnic women are being represented well in this video.  Big ups Jidenna."

**
16. Gabby the Goddesss

"Where my fellow brujas? Like if you a bruja."

-snip-
This comment had 400 likes & 37 comments as of 4/23/2020 at 11:50 PM EDT, including argumentative comments about "witchcraft" and Christianity which I didn't include in this compilation.

**
17. REPLY

BLUE COSMIC DREAMS

"One Badass Bruja here🙋🏾‍♀️"

**
18. REPLY

Briante Jones

"La bruja ❤️"

**
19. REPLY 

Alexis Valeria Bolivar

"bien bruja AYE"

**
20. REPLY
Maya Rego

"Hola 🌙"
-snip-
The moon is a symbol of brujas.
**
REPLY

21.  azareya19

"; ) IFa"

**

22. azareya19
"Ifa ; ) here"-snip-

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If%C3%A1
"Ifá is a Yoruba religion and system of divination. Its literary corpus is the Odu Ifá. ...

Ifá is practiced throughout the Americas, West Africa, and the Canary Islands, in the form of a complex religious system, and plays a critical role in the traditions of Santería, Candomblé, Palo, Umbanda, Vodou, and other Afro-American faiths, as well as in some traditional African religions."
**
REPLY
23. BrownSuga Babe
"Asè sistars!"

**REPLY24. Melanin Moet, 2020

"Squaaaaaad, Àseooo!

-snip-
"Aseooo" is the Nigerian Yoruba word “Ase” + 3 “o’s” for emphasis

**

25. Joshima M
"But uhhhh Rumi was persian and so is the sufi culture. Turkey if we are tryinf to be real generous. Caribbean witchcraft has nothing in common with middle eastern mysticism"

**
26. Reina Teixeria

"I Love this music you are Amazing its about time that witches and Brujas get recognised and respected.  Coming from a Bruja much Love and Light."

**
27. Black Rose

"As a black Muslim woman who is from Afro-Caribbean descent, I didn't like him conflating Sufism/Islamic mysticism with brujería and even using the term "gypsy" for Roma/Sinti. I did like the part with the dark skinned West-African sister with the pretty earrings. His intentions probably were good but parts of the clip were problematic........."

**

28. M Hassan
"An actual Sufi Woman here! ❤️"

**
REPLY

29. foxylady246
"Where are yall from?"

**
REPLY
30. M Hassan

"foxylady246 Sufism is Islamic mysticism. I’m East African and come from a long line of Sufis."

**
31. Piper Marie
"I’m adopting this as MY anthem 💁🏾‍♀️"

**
REPLY

32. Maryam•Ethereal Movement Productions, 2020

"Do you even know what a Sufi woman is? Please don't combine Sufism and brujas. They are not the same."

**
REPLY

33. Lexusfelder, 2020
"Maryam - Master of Movement lol it can be her anthem regardless do not be negative"

**34. maria e
"sufism ...a nice reminder that its practiced all over the world, Asia and Africa! love it"
** 35. Thejujubaby

"Im so happy about this song. More and more people are embracing age old practices and im happy we have a song we can jam too. I cant wait till i hear this on the radio"

**
36. Khalilah G

"I get the song it's super cute but facts are that a SUFI is a Muslim ascetic and mystic. There is no muslim sufi  chick belly dancing in this video. GORGEOUS women yes but no sufis.... I'm a bit confused about the title of song. Why not call is Siempre Bruja since its embracing the Brujas que practica magia o Santeria (witches that practice magic or santeria )????? My brain hurts".

**

37. SyL 201
"Love this dude I just wish this song was about AFRICAN women instead of woman of Arab descent. No offense but I don’t see no one making songs about our beautiful woman...oh yeah they also enslaved our people. I’m not racist at all... I love all but when you go African you GO AFRICAN."

**

REPLY 

38. poot lovato

"its not about women of arab descent lol....sufism is a practice in west africa as well thats why there was both arab and african women in the video"

**
REPLY

39. SyL 201
"poot lovato it’s an Arab creation adopted by African people like Christianity for example. Sufi is a Muslim term for mystic ...Sufi it’s self is not an African word so how could the practice be of African origin???

**

40. Djelem Djelem
Why do you not have real Roma women or the slur ”Gypsy” you say. We are not a free spirited lifestyle we are an ethnicity! Gypsy is a Word with a horrible history including holocaust and slavery not a Word for someone that does magic.

** 41. Carlzmatic
"This made the gypsy I am very happy :) I will be blasting this again later I just love you x"

**
REPLY

42. Djelem Djelem

"Carlzmatic are you a Gypsy for real or our real Word romani or do you just think it is an lifestyle?"

**
REPLY

43. Carlzmatic

"@Djelem Djelem I have it in my blood, I'm not going to give you my history but, I live it love it and I breath it.

**

44. Sunkissed Mami
"The women he has in all his videos are so mesmerizing and beautiful 🥰 I love a gypsy vibe"

**
REPLY 

45. Djelem Djelem

"Sunkissed Mami this video is problematic. The Word ”Gypsy” is a slur made for us romani people in europe during slavery and holocaust. We are usually christians but you non romani stereotypes us being witches and having a ”Gypsy” vibe. Millions of us got killed for that ”Gypsy” vibe and non romani just take our culture and think it is an lifestyle.

**
REPLY 

46. Sunkissed Mami

"Djelem Djelem It’s funny you tell me about my own history as if I’m unaware. I still find the beauty in things that are problematic not every gypsy is assumed to be a witch although it is common to think so by most people. I still find beauty in slavery I find beauty in all of the terrible things that has happened in the world because through all of it you get to teach others on the history especially those who are not so open minded. You can take a word someone used for you to slander you and turn it into something beautiful with a beautiful meaning rather than it being something that hurts you or makes you feel terribly. Stop assuming other people aren’t like you I didn’t come to slander the word I clearly came to say polite heartfelt things I’m sorry you’re hurt by the word but I am not my family is full of voodoo witch doctors do you see me upset about people calling them names do you think it stopped them from having a life? Do you think they even give af about what other people call them no they don’t.

So I’m sorry this word still hurts you but coming from someone who is literally mixed with almost all the races that everyone bashes I could care less about a negative word because I’ll turn it into something positive. Being called a mutt all your life upon other things opens your eyes to not be so stuck up on the past. And no I’m not saying it’s a good thing other people take from the culture but all cultures are taken from and this artist comes from a line of this history so why not talk about it turn into something powerful rather than scum. And yes I liked your comment because I don’t slander others with the overwhelming feeling of past. My first 8 years I grew up in Europe as well and I had to deal with racism being called this and that I clearly overcame it. But as I was saying I find it beautiful that he is uplifting these women.

-snip-
I reformatted this comment to enhance its readability.

**

47. guadalupe gonzales

"Lawd this whole time I didn’t know he was singing about witches"
** 48. Juju: The Web Series

"We love this song so much that we made a music/promo video to go with our web series that follows three Black witches and other Black and Brown supernaturals!

We would love for you to check it out.

https://youtu.be/yzxLdbDmkuY

** 49. Gbuddha10
"NGL I had to Google what a Sufi woman was when I first heard it. It's a catchy banger."

-Snip-
NGL= not gonna lie [gonna= going to]

**

50. cicelia corbin
"This song has such a mystical feel, i absolutely love it! jidenna neverrr disappoints

**

REPLY

51. Porousha Al-Sayyad

"Because our muslim sufi religion is literaly a mystical religion"

**
52. Kasia Randall

"Okay -- first of all, as a tarot reader, I would like to know the name of the deck used in this video! That definitely adds a layer of mysticism to the video (that I am absolutely in love with!) 😍

And I cannot say enough about all of the beauties showcased in this video! So many shades of earth! I get the feeling that several African countries had a representative."

**
REPLY 

53. ashjaymak3

"I was thinking the same thing! Very interesting deck."

**
REPLY 

54. Selina Cooper

"She Wolfe deck 3rd edition"

**

55. Kiwi The Beauty

"The African Boho vibes in this video my scene! I love this and this is definitely one of my favorite songs off the album. You need any more black Boho chicks for your next video I’m your girl!!

I love the black carefree black girls in the videos we are on the rise (not just hot girls)."
-snip-
"Boho" is short for "bohemian"

**
REPLY

56. Suyama cole

"I love the boho fashion vibes too such a classic style

**
REPLY
55. Djelem Djelem

"This video is still problematic for us real ”Gypsy” or romani people that was born with this ethnicity. This ”boho” style is my culture that we got killed for during our slavery and holocaust in europe, we are not an lifestyle we are a ethnicity!"

**
REPLY
56. Porousha Al-Sayyad

"This is not boho its literaly called sufi women its our 5k yr old persian tradition it's our religion we are muslims"

**
REPLY
57. aura nikole

"@Porousha Al-Sayyad  i agree with most of your comment...but romani people are from india originally..not europe. So..ope.

As a mixed romani/ethiopian who practices magick, has a lot of muslim beliefs, as well as beliefs in hinduism...this song speaks to me"

**
REPLY
58. "@Djelem Djelem  i am also romani, but no one is stealing our style or culture in this video. We happen to have a lot of sufi influence in our culture due to the fact we traveled through places that practiced. The same way we picked up influence from christianity."

**
REPLY
59. peachesandpoets

"@Djelem Djelem Hi, I'm african from a line of black spiritual healing women who have a lot of influence from persian and north african cultures and practice sufism.

This is literally not about you. Him saying gypsy doesn't make it about you. Don't do this."

**
REPLY
60. peachesandpoets

"What the hell is african boho vibes? lol."

**
REPLY
61. Djelem Djelem

"peachesandpoets so you mean i dont know my people and culture? Google gypsy. Theres only one type of Gypsy and thats us"

**
REPLY
62. Djelem Djelem

"peachesandpoets we are the gypsys in persia and north Africa we are all over the world"

**
REPLY
63. peachesandpoets

"@Djelem Djelem OK girl. Find a ridiculous reason to be a victim if you want to. Take care."

** 

64. Kelly Walker - CDLE

"This is a gorgeous ode to all the women who practice their magic with grace and love. We are out here and we will take care of you if you honor us."

**** 2020

65. Thani Moinamkou

"Tho Sufi are Muslim, Sufism has nothing to do with witchcraft and magical thing. It's about spirituality, but there's no witchcraft in it. I love the song but as a Muslim knowing that witchcraft is a big sin and suffi are Muslim I'm confused by this video."

**
66. shataura duncan

"Sufism  mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God."

**
67. Maryam•Ethereal Movement Productions

"A SUFI IS NOT A WITCH. I HOPE YOU ALL REALIZE HE IS TALKING ABOUT A SECTOR OF ISLAM BUT TOTALLY TAKING IT OUT OF CONTEXT. COMBINING WITCHES AND SUFISM. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. SPIRITUAL, YES, BUT BRUJA AND SUFI WOMAN??? GET THE [abbreviated profanity deleted] OUTTA HERE. Starry eyed ignorant ass fools. Praising what you don't understand.

Sufism is getting closer TO ONE GOD, FINDING LOVE THROUGH ONE GOD. Worshipping other spirit is considered "shirk" in Islam. So I don't know who wrote this dumb ass song, but I don't like that they throw around "Sufi woman" as if a Sufi woman is a witch."

** REPLY

68.  J-Lynn

"Maryam - Master of Movement thanks for saying this cuz I was wondering what it is about.

But maybe if you would teach with love instead of caps and cussing?! I think that people would appreciate the knowledge?"

**
REPLY

69. Lovebug

"@J-Lynn yeah he is mixing a few cultures here... sufi, bruja voodoo he mentioned gypsies... but we get the gist."

**
REPLY
70. Lovebug

"@J-Lynn would have been better If he named the song voodoo woman"

**
REPLY

71. Maryam•Ethereal Movement Productions

"Idk where you got that last part of the info, but hoodoo is different than voodoo, and Sufism is way different than voodoo, Sufism is the inward search of or the getting closer to ONE God. Combining Voodoo and Sufism would be totally shirk and haram. It would just be going against and/or contradicting Islam and Sufi teachings."

**
REPLY

72. Issa Sesay
"@Voracious Child I come from a line of sufis and I have just recently started practicing it and in line with my ancestral connection( african spirituality).

**
REPLY 

73. Issa Sesay

"@Maryam•Ethereal Movement Productions They do seek for protection and guidance in both dear. Voodoo and Hoodoo is not evil, it is the intention of the individual."

**
REPLY

74. H A

"There is no voodoo in Sufi 😂 that’s shrik , Sufism does not exist outside the realm of Islam"

**
REPLY
75. Hak Clk

"@Issa Sesay it is still shirk, and committing shirk excludes you from being a Muslim/Believer immediately. When one neglects the pillars of Islam and starts interpreting/mixing other cultural aspects into it, he/she excludes themselves from the Ummah of our beloved Prophet s.a.v. Sufism is not that magical/superspiritual thing most people think it is. It merely is a Philosophy about the love towards Allah. Thats it."

**
REPLY
76. Mercedes Brixton

"She’s right. There is many Islamic witchcraft with Sufi philosophy"

**
REPLY
77. [REC] - Reserva Espiritual de Corvus

"@Maryam•Ethereal Movement Productions Not everybody seeks Orthodoxy in Spirituality 🤷🏻‍♂️

If I recall correctly, Sufism made an impact in Al-Andalus back in the days in the Iberian Peninsula, where I am from."

**
REPLY
78. Maryam•Ethereal Movement Productions

"@[REC] - Reserva Espiritual de Corvus huh? Sufism may not be all orthodox and it has more spirituality but we still believe in one God. It's not voodoo or witchcraft."

**
REPLY

79. Maryam•Ethereal Movement Productions

"@H A exactly I'm trying to tell these poor people"

**
REPLY
80. Maryam•Ethereal Movement Productions

"@Issa Sesay what?? Since when? Idk if you're thinking of a different cultural but it's totally Haram to mix those two. It would go against it all. I repeat, voodoo and Sufism are not the same! As a Sufi myself, you just sound ignorant, I'm sorry! I did see you say you are "reclaiming" your African ancestory, but you really should learn more about Sufism."

**
REPLY

81. Ariana Omnomnom

@Maryam•Ethereal Movement Productions She never said they were the same thing. She said that some tribes incorporate it. Meaning regardless of how you as an individual practice Sufism there are others who practice it alongside hoodoo and voodoo practices.

**
REPLY
82. A. Adeze

"Facts🔥🔥🔥"

**

83. Diana Muniz

Es hijo de Shango definitivamente 🤍❤️ la primer mujer de amarillo “Oshun” la morena que sale después 1:27 podría ser “Oyá” me enamoré de este video y el cantante está guapísimo 🤤
-snip-
Google Translate from Spanish to English
"He is the son of Shango definitely 🤍❤️ the first woman in yellow

"Oshun" the brunette that comes out after 1:27 could be "Oyá" I fell in love with this video and the singer is beautiful 🤤 -snip-
“guapísimo”= Standard English correction= “very handsome”

**

84. Kevin

"Thanks bruh for teaching, sharing and spreading knowledge that was written millennia ago, our ancestors knew the importance of being a holistic human being - spiritually, mentally, physically.

Proud to see Jidenna reaching out to these ancient truths."

🙌🏾🔥🕺🏽💃👊🏾

**** This concludes Part II of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Information About "John The Conqueror" In African American Folk Culture

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides information about the folk character "John The Conqueror" and John The Conqueror roots in African American folk culture. This post also showcases the Blues song "My John The Conqueror Root".

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to Willie Dixon, composer and Muddy Waters, performer of the song "My John The Conqueror Root". Thanks also to the publisher of that song on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT "JOHN THE CONQUEROR" ROOT & FOLK CHARACTER
From http://www.luckymojo.com/johntheconqueror.html by catherine yronwode

"As an amulet, JOHN THE CONQUEROR ROOT has no equal. It is used for Drawing Luck, gaining Mastery, and Strengthening Male Nature. We make a dressing oil from chips of the root, and incorporate it into sachet powders, incense, and crystals for bath or floor wash. All our JOHN THE CONQUEROR supplies contain pieces of real root!"
-- The Lucky Mojo Curio Co. catalogue

"High John the Conqueror root is one of the staples of African-American folk magic. Its use in mojo hands is as ubiquitous as its qualities are varied, and its very name signifies power and prosperity to many.

Who was John the Conqueror and what is the root named after him? Ethnographers, especially those influenced by Zora Neale Hurston, say that he was a black slave whose life -- perhaps a real life that was embellished in the telling, perhaps a fictional life entirely imagined -- was an inspiration to slaves who wanted to rebel against their masters but could not do so openly. John, said to be the son of an African king, was in captivity, but he never became subservient, and his cleverness at tricking his master supplied many a story with a pointed moral. If he was a real being, he soon acquired some of the characteristics of mythical trickster figures like the Native American Coyote, the African-American Bre'r Rabbit, and the West African deity known variously as Elegua, Legba, and Eshu. He gave -- only to take away. He bet -- and never lost. He played dumb -- but he was never outsmarted. The reputation of High John is so great that, as recorded by the folklorist Harry Middleton Hyatt in the 1930s, just reciting the words "John over John" and "John the Conqueror" is a powerful spell of magical protection against being hoodooed."...

There are three roots named for John the Conqueror. Each is in a separate botanical family and has a different method of use.

HIGH JOHN THE CONQUEROR ROOT
High John the Conqueror is the most prized of the three John roots. When Willie Dixon sings in "Hootchie Cootchie Man" that he has "a John the Conqueroo," he means a John the Conqueror root -- the hard, woody tuber of Ipomoea jalapa, a member of the morning glory family, and a relative of the common sweet potato. Fresh John the Conqueror root has a unique, spicy fragrance, reminiscent of a combination of cherry-scented pipe tobacco, vetivert, cedarwood, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and mace. Like many other ipomoeas, some of which are psychedelic, it is rich in alkaloids, but in magical practice, the root is not ingested, probably because it is an extremely powerful laxative. Instead it is used whole -- carried on the person as a pocket piece or as an ingredient in a mojo bag, especially one designed to draw money, bring luck at games of chance, or enhance personal sexual power....

DIXIE JOHN, SOUTHERN JOHN, LOW JOHN ROOT
Southern John or Dixie John Root (rarely called "The Conqueror") is the root of the common Wake-Robin or Trillium grandiflorum and related species. These spring-flowering members of the lily family have long been used medicinally, and among Euro-American herbalists, Low John is sold medicinally under the name Birth-Root or Beth-Root and used as an aid in childbirth and with menstrual cramps. However, in African-American folk magic, Low John is not ingested. It is carried on the person, usually for help in family matters and love. …

CHEWING JOHN, LITTLE JOHN, COURT CASE ROOT
The third John root is Chewing John, sometimes called Little John to Chew or Court Case Root. This is Alpina galanga, otherwise called Galangal. It is a member of the ginger family and is medicinally used as a stomachic and carminative. In African-American hoodoo practice, its pleasant gingery taste is part of its charm and, unlike High John Root or Low John Root, Chewing John Root is actually chewed and the juice swallowed. A typical spell prescribes its use in court case magic: Chew the root, swallow the juice and discretely spit the "cud" onto the courtroom floor before the judge walks in; he will decide the case in your favour...

WORKING WITH WHOLE JOHN THE CONQUEROR ROOTS
John the Conqueror roots are primarily "male" roots because they resemble the testicles of brown-skinned men. When carried as a lucky amulet, a man's root is always whole. No African American man i know with a family background in hoodoo practice would walk into my shop and buy a broken High John root, even if it was as big as a baby's head and cost two dollars!...

How did African slaves and their descendents come to believe that the root of a wild morning glory vine native to Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida was a powerful magical herb? The answer probably lies in the little-documented but widely-acknowledged contact between captive Africans and the Native Americans from whom they acquired local botanical knowledge.

Any intelligent herb doctor or shamanic healer who was transported to a new environment would seek out a list of regional plants whose uses corresponded to the ones with which he or she was familiar. Thus, it is only reasonable to assume that Ipomoea jalapa was the designated surrogate for a West African plant with similar magical or medical properties.

The Native Americas made use of various regional species of Ipomoea both as a laxative and for magic. To the Iroquois Indians, the plant was "Man Root" or "Man In the Earth" -- and men carried it while hunting to strengthen themselves and increase their endurance. It was even said that if a man rubbed his root before hitting another man in a fight, he could kill his opponent with one blow.

Because the character of the person or mythical figure called John the Conqueror partakes of the tricksterish and way-opening qualities of the orisha and the loa known variously as Elegua, Legba, and Eshu, it is not unreasonable to search for a hypothetical African fore-runner to John the Conquer root in the herbal folklore of Africa.

It may be that there are three John-roots in the African-American hoodoo tradition because each in its own way substituted for some part of an African root that incorporated diverse qualities. That is, an African root that could be chewed for male power was analogous to the Iroquois Man Root -- except that Man Root could not be chewed, so Chewing John was added to the retinue of John Roots to cover for that aspect of the African knowledge-base. Likewise the African root was used to help women in childbirth -- so the obvious substitution by Native shaman for this would be Birth Root or Dixie John.”...

****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLE
Example #1: Muddy Waters - My John The Conqueror Root



IfYouAintGotNothingYouGotNothingToLoose Published on Nov 29, 2012
The mean Muddy Waters
-snip-
This song was first recorded in 1964.

Here's two comments from another sound file of this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOP61h6cAoQ
Chris Moran, 2014
"Personnel list from liner notes:
Muddy Waters – Composer, guitar, vocals
Buddy Guy – Guitar
Sammy Lawhorn – Guitar
James Madison – Guitar
Otis Spann – Harmonica, piano (***very funny! James Cotton was under contract to another label at the time. Spann & Cotton were buds, so Spann was listed as the harp man)
Francis Clay – Drums
Clifton James – Drums
S.P. Leary – Drums
Willie Dixon – Bass
Milton Rector – Bass
Johnny Temple – Composer
J.T. Brown – Clarinet, tenor saxophone"

**
Chris Moran, 2014
"Don't forget James Cotton on harp. He doesn't get a mention because he was under contract to another record company (probably Vanguard). Also J.T. Brown is listed on clarinet and tenor saxophone. Nothing like saxophone to evoke the feeling of a "folk singer," eh?"

****
LYRICS: MY JOHN THE CONQUEROR ROOT
(Written by Willie Dixon & sung by Muddy Waters)

My pistol may snap, my mojo is frail
But i rub my root, my luck will never fail
When i rub my root, my John the Conquer root
Aww, you know there ain't nothin' she can do, Lord,
I rub my John the Conquer root

I was accused of murder in the first degree
The judge's wife cried, "Let the man go free!"
I was rubbin' my root, my John the Conquer root
Aww, you know there ain't nothin' she can do, Lord,
I rub my John the Conquer root

Oh, i can get in a game, don't have a dime,
All i have to do is rub my root, i win every time
When i rub my root, my John the Conquer root
Aww, you know there ain't nothin' she can do, Lord,
I rub my John the Conquer root


Source: http://www.lyricspond.com/artist-muddy-waters/lyrics-my-john-the-conqueror-root

****
REFERENCES TO "JOHN THE CONQUEROR" ("JOHN THE CONQUEROO") IN OTHER BLUES SONGS
From http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/muddy-waters-hoochie-coochie-man-video.html
Muddy Waters - "Hoochie Coochie Man"
"I got a black cat bone
I got a mojo too
I got the Johnny Concheroo
I'm gonna mess with you
I'm gonna make you girls
Lead me by my hand
Then the world will know
The hoochie coochie man
But you know I'm him
Everybody knows I'm him
Oh you know I'm the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I'm him

****
From http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/07/muddy-waters-mannish-boys-information.html
Muddy Waters - "Mannish Boy"
"I think I go down,
To old Kansas Stew
I'm gonna bring back my second cousin,
That little Johnny Cocheroo"
-snip-
My guess is that the African American children's game song "Johnny Cuckoo" is also based on the character John the Conqueror. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/02/five-traditional-african-american-game.html for a video of African American singing games that includes a performance of "Johnny Cuckoo".

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Willie Dixon - Seventh Son (Video, Lyrics, Comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases the Willie Dixon song "Seventh Song" and is Part II in a three part series of post on three Blues songs that include references to the power of the number seven. Each of these songs are examples of "bragging Blues" and not the "sad Blues" that many think are the only way that Blues can be.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/muddy-waters-hoochie-coochie-man-video.html "Muddy Waters - Hoochie Coochie Man (Video, Lyrics, Comments)" for Part I of this series.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/jt-funny-paper-smith-seven-sisters.html "J.T. "Funny Paper" Smith - Seven Sisters Blues (Video, Lyrics, Comments)" for Part III of this series.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
FEATURED VIDEO: Willie Dixon Seventh Son(1980)



Uploaded by kazuharp on Sep 26, 2009

[from jump street』 with Oscar Brown,jr featuring Willie Dixon & the Chicago Blues All-Stars (Lafayette Leak p, John Watkins gu, Freddie Dixon ba, Jimmy Tillman dr)

****
LYRICS: SEVENTH SONG
(written by Willie Dixon)

Well now, ev'rybody cryin'
About the Seventh Son
But in the whole round world
There is only one
An I'm the one
Yes, I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
I'm the one they called the Seventh Son

Well, I can tell yo' future
Befo' it come to pass
An I can do things for you
That make your heart feel glad
A-look in the skies
And predict the rain
I can tell when a woman
Got another man
An I'm the one
Yes, I'm the one
Well, I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the Seventh Son

(harmonica & instrumental)

Now, I can hold ya close
An I can squeeze you tight
An I can make you cry for me
Both day and night
An I can heal the sick
An even raise the dead
And make you little girls
Talk out of your head
Yes, I'm the one
Well, I'm the one, I'm the one
I'm the one they call the Seventh Son
'Ooh!'

(guitar & instrumental)

Now, I can talk these words
That sound so sweet
I can make your little heart
Even skip a beat
I'm the one
I can make you, baby
Hold you in my arms
And make the flesh quiver
On yo' lovely bones
I'm the one
Yes, I'm the one
Well, I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the Seventh Son

(piano, bass & instrumental)

Well now, ev'rybody cryin'
About the Seventh Son
But in the whole round world
There is only one
I'm the one
Yes, I'm the one
Well, I'm the one, I'm the one
I'm the one they called the Seventh Son
Well, I'm the one, I'm the one
I'm the one they call the Seventh Son
Well, I'm the one, I'm the one
I'm the one they call the Seventh Son.

Reposted from http://www.lyricstime.com/willie-dixon-the-seventh-son-lyrics.html
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com

****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE NUMBER SEVEN
From http://www.nairaland.com/1473/life-possessed-number-seven-7/1 "My Life is Possessed by the Number Seven"
posted by cushman, October 15, 2005
"THE NUMBER SEVEN
Article by H. P. Blavatsky
A DEEP significance was attached to numbers in hoary antiquity. There was not a people with anything like philosophy, but gave great prominence to numbers in their application to religious observances, the establishment of festival days, symbols, dogmas, and even the geographical distribution of empires. The mysterious numerical system of Pythagoras was nothing novel when it appeared far earlier than 600 years B.C. The occult meaning of figures and their combinations entered into the meditations of the sages of every people; and the day is not far off when, compelled by the eternal cyclic rotation of events, our now sceptical unbelieving West will have to admit that in that regular periodicity of ever recurring events there is something more than a mere blind chance...

The number seven was considered sacred not only by all the cultured nations of antiquity and the East, but was held in the greatest reverence even by the later nations of the West. The astronomical origin of this number is established beyond any doubt. Man, feeling himself time out of mind dependent upon the heavenly powers, ever and everywhere made earth subject to heaven. The largest and brightest of the luminaries thus became in his sight the most important and highest of powers; such were the planets which the whole antiquity numbered as seven. In course of time these were transformed into seven deities. The Egyptians had seven original and higher gods; the Phœnicians seven kabiris; the Persians, seven sacred horses of Mithra; the Parsees, seven angels opposed by seven demons, and seven celestial abodes paralleled by seven lower regions. To represent the more clearly this idea in its concrete form, the seven gods were often represented as one seven-headed deity. The whole heaven was subjected to the seven planets; hence, in nearly all the religious systems we find seven heavens"...
-snip-
http://www.nairaland.com is a Nigerian blog ["Naira" is a contemporary vernacular term for Nigeria, West Africa]. In particular read the posts by cushman. A number of his posts are quotes from http://www.luckymojo.com/number7.html

By the way, the name "cushman" might be a chosen name as "The Kingdom of Kush or Kush was an ancient African state situated on the confluences of the Blue Nile, White Nile and River Atbara in what is now the Republic of Sudan." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kush
**
From http://webpages.shepherd.edu/ckline01/website/superpage3.htm
"Seventh Child
If a seventh son is born to a seventh son or a seventh daughter is born to a seventh daughter, then this child is said to have magical properties; most commonly, the gift of healing. In some cultures this child can only have magical powers if the six children preceding them are of the same sex. The child was thought to cure evil by the touch as well as ringworm and burns. Most of these children possess the power to tell the future."

-snip-
Other quotes about the meaning of the number seven can be found on the other pancocojams post in this series.

****
RELATED LINKS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Dixon
"William James "Willie" Dixon (July 1, 1915 – January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer."
**
http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoohistory.html Hoodoo, Conjure, Rootwork, Definition Of Terms
**
http://www.seiyaku.com/reference/seven/seven-church.html
This article discusses the significance of seven in the Bible & Christian religion

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS
Thanks to Willie Dixon for composing & performing "Seventh Song". Thanks also to those whose transcriptions and comments I quoted in this post, and thanks to the uploader of this post's featured video.

Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

J.T. "Funny Paper" Smith - Seven Sisters Blues (Video, Lyrics, Comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases "Seven Sister Blues - Part I and Part 2" by J. T. "Funny Paper" Smith. This is Part III in a three part series of post on three Blues songs that include references to the power of the number seven. Each of these songs are examples of "bragging Blues" and not the "sad Blues" that many think are the only way that Blues can be.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/muddy-waters-hoochie-coochie-man-video.html "Muddy Waters - Hoochie Coochie Man (Video, Lyrics, Comments)" for Part I of this series.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/willie-dixon-seventh-son-video-lyrics.html "Willie Dixon - Seventh Son (Videos, Lyrics, Comments) for Part II of this series.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
FEATURED VIDEO: J.T. "Funny Paper" Smith - Seven Sisters Blues Part 1



Uploaded by fuadramses on Aug 2, 2010

J.T. "Funny Paper" Smith was a pioneering force behind the development of the Texas blues guitar style of the pre-war era; in addition to honing a signature sound distinguished by intricate melody lines and simple, repetitive bass riffs, he was also a gifted composer, authoring songs of surprising narrative complexity...

****
LYRICS: SEVEN SISTERS BLUES - PARTS 1 and 2
(J. T. "Funny Paper" Smith)

PART 1

They tell me Seven Sisters in New Orleans
that can really fix a man up right
They tell me Seven Sisters in New Orleans
that can really fix a man up right
And I'm headed for New Orleans, Louisiana,
I'm travelin' both day and night.

I hear them say the oldest Sister
look just like she's 21
I hear them say the oldest Sister
look just like she's 21
And said she can look right in your eyes
and tell you just exactly what you want done.

They tell me they've been hung,
been bled, and been crucified
They tell me they've been hung,
been bled, and been crucified
But I just want enough help
to stand on the water and rule the tide.

It's bound to be Seven Sisters,
'cause I've heard it by everybody else
It's bound to be Seven Sisters,
I've heard it by everybody else
Course, I'd love to take their word,
but I'd rather go and see for myself.

When I leave the Seven Sisters,
I'll pile stones all around
When I leave the Seven Sisters,
I'll pile stones all around
And go to my baby and tell her,
"There's another Seven Sister man in town."

Good morning, Seven Sisters,
just thought I'd come down and see
Good morning, Seven Sisters,
I thought I'd come down to see
Will you build me up where I'm torn down,
and make me strong where I'm weak?

PART 2

I went to New Orleans, Louisiana,
just on account of something I heard
I went to New Orleans, Louisiana,
just on account of something I heard
The Seven Sisters told me everything I wanted to know,
and they wouldn't let me speak a word.

Now, it's Sarah, Minnie, Bertha,
Holly, Dolly, Betty and Jane
Sarah, Minnie, Bertha,
Holly, Dolly, Betty and Jane
You can't know them Sisters apart,
because they all looks just the same.

The Seven Sisters sent me away happy,
'round the corner I met another little girl
Seven Sisters sent me 'way happy,
'round the corner I met another little girl
She looked at me and smiled, and said,
"Go, Devil, and destroy the world."

[spoken] I'm gonna destroy it, too.

[spoken] I'm all right now.

Seven times a year
the Seven Sisters will visit me in my sleep
Seven times a year
the Seven Sisters will visit me all in my sleep
And they said I won't have no trouble,
and said I'll live twelve days in a week.

Wanna go down in Louisiana,
and get the hell right out of your bein'
Wanna go down in Louisiana,
and get right out of your bein'
These Seven Sisters can do anything in Louisiana,
but you'll have to go to New Orleans.

Lyrics from http://www.luckymojo.com/number7.html comments by catherine yronwode, the editor of that website. Catherine Yronwode indicated that "The transciption is by Chris Smith (email deleted)"

The lyrics were prefaced by these comments:
"Here are complete lyrics for "Seven Sisters Blues, Parts I and 2" recorded October 3rd, 1931 in Chicago and released on two sides of a 78 rpm record. Notice that the number 21 (3 times 7) also appears in this song.".
-snip-
Additional comments by catherine yronwode are reposted below under "The Meaning Of The Number Seven".

****
INFORMATION ABOUT J. T. "FUNNY PAPER" SMITH
From http://www.answers.com/topic/john-t-smith
"J.T. "Funny Paper" Smith was a pioneering force behind the development of the Texas blues guitar style of the pre-war era; in addition to honing a signature sound distinguished by intricate melody lines and simple, repetitive bass riffs, he was also a gifted composer, authoring songs of surprising narrative complexity. A contemporary of such legends as Blind Lemon Jefferson and Dennis "Little Hat" Jones, next to nothing concrete is known of John T. Smith's life. Assumed to have been born in East Texas during the latter half of the 1880s, he was a minstrel who wandered about the panhandle region, performing at fairs, fish fries, dances, and other community events (often in the company of figures including Tom Shaw, Texas Alexander, and Bernice Edwards).

Smith settled down long enough to record some 22 songs between 1930 and 1931, among them his trademark number "Howling Wolf Blues, Pts. One and Two"; indeed, he claimed the alternate nickname "Howling Wolf" some two decades before it was appropriated by his more famous successor, Chester Burnett. (The true story behind Smith's more common nickname remains a matter of some debate -- some blues archivists claim he was instead dubbed "Funny Papa," with the "Funny Paper" alias resulting only from record company error.) His career came to an abrupt end during the mid-'30s, when he was arrested for murdering a man over a gambling dispute. Smith was found guilty and imprisoned, and is believed to have died in his cell circa 1940."

[Posted by Jason Ankeny, Rovi] Format changed for greater clarity.

****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE NUMBER SEVEN
From http://www.luckymojo.com/number7.html
"The Seven Sisters is a term used to indicate the constellation of the Pleiades -- but The Seven Sisters of New Orleans were a family of hoodoo women who lived and practiced in the Crescent City in the 1920s - 30s. Mentioned by several of Harry Middleton Hyatt's informants, they were said to have a house "by the water" and were popular enough to became the subject of a blues song by the Texas musician J. T. "Funny Paper" Smith...

As Funny Paper Smith's song indicates, the Seven Sisters demonstrated a "gift" or mark of power commonly found among hoodoo root workers: they could tell a client what was wrong before he or she spoke. This gift was also attributed to the Arkanasas conjure and spiritualist Aunt Caroline Dye. Advertisements for such seers may make reference to their telepathic power with stock phrases such as "She tells all before you utter a word" or "Don't tell her -- let her tell you!"

The famous Seven Sisters of New Orleans gave rise to numerous imitators, among them Ida Carter, a hoodoo women in Hogansville, Alabama, who called herself "Seven Sisters," despite being a single individual. In recent years the Seven Sisters of New Orleans name has became a brand of hoodoo products distributed by International Imports."
-snip-
Other quotes about the meaning of the number seven can be found on the other pancocojams post in this series.

Also, for the record, the "Seven Sisters" referred to in this Blues song has nothing to do with the children's recreational song "Seven Little Sisters" which is included in this pancocojams post: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/ladies-and-gentlemen-children-too.html "Ladies And Gentlemen, Children Too" Playground Rhyme

****
RELATED LINKS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(folk_magic)
**
http://santeriachurch.org/the-seven-african-powers/
-snip-
Other quotes about the meaning of the number seven can be found on the other pancocojams post in this series.

****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS
Thanks to J. T. "Funny Paper" Smith for composing & performing "Seventh Song". Thanks also to those whose transcriptions and comments I quoted in this post, and thanks to the uploader of this post's featured video.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

Muddy Waters - Hoochie Coochie Man (Video, Lyrics, Comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - April 4, 2026

This post showcases the Willie Dixon song "Hoochie Coochie Man" as performed by Muddy Waters. This is Part I in a three part series of post on three Blues songs that include references to the power of the number seven. Each of these songs are examples of "bragging Blues" and not the "sad Blues" that many think are the only way that Blues can be.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/willie-dixon-seventh-son-video-lyrics.html "Willie Dixon - Seventh Son (Videos, Lyrics, Comments) for Part II of this series.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/jt-funny-paper-smith-seven-sisters.html "J.T. "Funny Paper" Smith - Seven Sisters Blues (Video, Lyrics, Comments)" for Part III of this series.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
FEATURED VIDEO: MUDDY WATERS -hoochie coochie man (1960)



Uploaded by BestMasterGuitar on Jul 8, 2010
Newport 1960...

Newport 1960. Canción editada por Waters en 1956, escrita por Willie Dixon. Muddy Waters no tan solo influencio el Blues, más bien diversos generos musicales como el rock and roll, rock, folk y el jazz. El blues ingles fue fuertemente influenciado por este hombre y su guitarra, tanto asi que la legendaria banda inglesa The Rolling Stones lleva ese nombre gracias a uno de las canciones de Muddy, en el rock más duro también encontramos grandes guitarristas a quienes Waters infuencio tales como Angus Young de AC/DC.
-snip-
Google translate:
Song edited by Waters in 1956, written by Willie Dixon. Muddy Waters influenced not only the Blues rather different musical genres such as rock and roll, rock, folk and jazz. The English blues was heavily influenced by this man and his guitar, so much so that the legendary British band The Rolling Stones so named because one of the songs of Muddy, the harder rock also find great guitarists who Waters infuencio such as Angus Young of AC / DC.

****
LYRICS: Hootchie Cootchie Man
(written by Willie Dixon)

The gypsy woman told my mother
Before I was born
I got a boy child's comin'
He's gonna be a son of a gun
He gonna make pretty women's
Jump and shout
Then the world wanna know
What this all about
But you know I'm him
Everybody knows I'm him
Well you know I'm the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I'm him

I got a black cat bone
I got a mojo too
I got the Johnny Concheroo
I'm gonna mess with you
I'm gonna make you girls
Lead me by my hand
Then the world will know
The hoochie coochie man
But you know I'm him
Everybody knows I'm him
Oh you know I'm the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I'm him

On the seventh hours
On the seventh day
On the seventh month
The seven doctors say
He was born for good luck
And that you'll see
I got seven hundred dollars
Don't you mess with me
But you know I'm him
Everybody knows I'm him
Well you know I'm the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I'm him

Lyrics reposted from http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/martinscorsesebestoftheblues/imyourhoochiecoochieman.htm

****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE SONG "HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoochie_Coochie_Man
“‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ (sometimes referred to as "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man") is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954 in Chicago. The song was a major hit upon its release, reaching #8 on Billboard magazine's Black Singles chart....

The song was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1984. The song was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998. The song is a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll list. The song was featured on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, where it was voted number 225 by representatives of the music industry and press.
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoochie_coochie
"The hoochie coochie was a sexually provocative belly dance that originated at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876. It became wildly popular during and after the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Described by the New York Journal in 1893 as "Neither dancing of the head nor the feet", it was a belly dance performed by women of (or presented as having) an Eastern European gypsy heritage, often as part of travelling "sideshows". Gooch, goochie or gootchie was apparently already a Southern US term for a woman's vagina, and hoochie coochie has been suggested as referring directly to sex."
-snip-
What those song descriptions don’t include is the fact that beginning of the word “hoochie” is the same as the beginning of the word "hoodoo”. I don't think that's a coincidence because the song "Hootchie Coochie Man” includes references to African American hoodoo beliefs & supersitions such as the power of the “black cat bone”, the power of the plant called “John The Conqueror", and the power inherent in the number seven”. Furthermore, notice that the song "Hoochie Cootchie Man" starts with a prediction from a gypsy woman before the singer was born that he would be a special person. This further solidifies that this song isn’t about a man who is sexual potent, but a man whose sexual powers are just one part of his overall super human nature that was bequeathed to him because of when he was born

On the seventh hours
On the seventh day
On the seventh month
The seven doctors say
He was born for good luck

-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Conqueror
"John the Conqueror, also known as High John the Conqueror, John de Conquer, and many other folk variants, is a folk hero from African-American folklore. He is associated with a certain root, the John the Conquer root, or John the Conqueroo, to which magical powers are ascribed in American folklore, especially among the hoodoo tradition of folk magic...

The root and its magical uses are mentioned in a number of blues lyrics. Regardless of which name is used, in these contexts "conqueror" is pronounced "conker" or sometimes "conqueroo"...

The plant is known in some areas as bindweed or jalap root. It has a pleasant, earthy odour, but it is a strong laxative if taken internally. It is not used for this purpose in folk magic; it is instead used as one of the parts of a mojo bag. It is typically used in sexual spells of various sorts and it is also considered lucky for gambling."
[Italics were added by me to highlight this sentence.]

****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE NUMBER SEVEN
From http://www.luckymojo.com/number7.html
"Why is 7 so fortunate? The following colloquy, begun in a Freemasonic mailing list in 1995, was continued in the alt.lucky.w newsgroup and the pre-war blues e-list from 1997 - 1999. It is currently my most complete summary of the LUCKY SEVEN concept.

From: Rick Reade (email address deleted)
“There are seven visible planets and luminaries (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn). Each one rules a day of the week (Sun=Sunday, Saturn= Saturday, Moon=Monday, etc.) and that is where the seven day week came from. Each one is supposed to have a particular virtue or power.”...

From: catherine yronwode (email address deleted)
...In African-American hoodoo there is are several formulas for anointing oil, soap, and floor wash that use the numebr seven. Among them are Seven Herb Bath, Gambler's Gold Lucky Seven Hand Wash, Seven-Eleven Holy Type Oil, and a relatively modern line of products marketed under the name Seven African Powers. These "powers" are better known in the African-Caribbean Santeria religion as the Orishas or natural forces of the African Yoruba people, who during slavery days became identified with seven Catholic saints. Images of the Seven African Powers can be found on Santeria votive candles...
-snip-
From http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3406300275.html
"The number seven has been regarded with superstitious awe for centuries—some consider seven to be lucky; others, unlucky. Rather than being viewed as bringing good fortune or misfortune, the number seven has long been considered a digit of great power. For example, there are seven ecstasies of Zoroaster, the seventh day that celebrates the Sabbath, the seven days of the week, the seven golden candlesticks of Solomon's temple. Among various early peoples, the seventh son of a seventh son was believed to be born with supernatural powers, a boy who would become a wizard when he grew to manhood. Likewise, the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter was believed to be born with gifts of prophecy and healing."
-snip-
Other quotes about the meaning of the number seven can be found on the other pancocojams post in this series.

****
RELATED LINKS
http://www.muddywaters.com/home.html Official website for the great American Blues musician and vocalist Muddy Waters (April 4, 1915 - April 30, 1983)
**
http://www.nairaland.com/1473/life-possessed-number-seven-7/1
This is a Nigerian blog ["Naira" is a contemporary vernacular term for Nigeria, West Africa]. In particular read the posts by cushman. A number of his posts are quotes from http://www.luckymojo.com/number7.html

**
http://www.seiyaku.com/reference/seven/seven-church.html
This article discusses the significance of seven in the Bible & Christian religion

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS
Thanks to Willie Dixon for composing "Hoochie Coochie Man" song, and Muddy Waters for performing that song. Thanks also to those whose transcriptions and comments I quoted in this post, and thanks to the uploader of this post's featured video.

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