A veve (also spelled vèvè or vevè) is a religious symbol commonly used in different branches of Vodun throughout the African diaspora, such as Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo.
[citation needed] Veves should not be confused with the anaforuanas used in Abakuá, the firmas used in Palo, nor the pontos riscados used in Umbanda and Quimbanda, as these are separate Afro-American religions.
In the course of Vodou ceremonies, the reproduction of the astral forces represented by the veves obliges the lwa... to descend to earth.
[citation needed] Veves use symbolism to communicate which spirit is being called upon - for example, gatekeeper Papa Legba is invoked with a vèvè that features a walking cane, to indicate his jolly grandpa-like demeanor.
[5] The illustration also features coded images that reflect the matrilineal and patrilineal culture of the artist, providing information about their ancestral lineage.