Ava Kay Jones: The Voodoo Priestess of Football

Summary

Summary of "Ava Kay Jones: The Voodoo Priestess of Football" – The Moth Podcast

Introduction

In the episode titled "Ava Kay Jones: The Voodoo Priestess of Football," released on January 31, 2012, The Moth presents a captivating and unconventional story that intertwines the realms of sports and spirituality. Ava K. Jones, a self-proclaimed voodoo priestess from New Orleans, shares her unique experience of using traditional spiritual practices to influence the outcomes of NFL games, specifically focusing on her involvement with the New Orleans Saints.

Setting the Stage: Ava K. Jones and Her Role

Ava begins by challenging the stereotypical perceptions of American football, emphasizing that beyond the physical prowess and strategic maneuvers lies a deeper, spiritual dimension. She introduces the concept of a "grigri bag" (voodoo charm) as a talisman that holds the potential to sway the fortunes of a football team.

"You may think that the great American sport of football is all about speed and muscle... But I'm here to tell you tonight that there is such a thing as the spirituality of football." ([02:32])

Ava establishes her credibility by recounting her rise to prominence as a voodoo priestess within the NFL landscape, particularly through her association with the New Orleans Saints during a challenging period in their performance history.

The Voodoo Ritual at the Superdome

Ava narrates a pivotal moment in December 2000 when the Saints, struggling with a 34-year playoff drought, sought her assistance for a miraculous turnaround in the Superdome. She describes the Superdome's construction over an ancient cemetery, attributing the team's poor record to the unrested ancestors.

"The Superdome was built upon an ancient cemetery. And, you know, it's really not cool to go plop a sports facility on top of somebody's ancestors." ([02:52])

Equipped with her dance troupe, drummers, dancers, a pet constrictor named Esprit, and spirits (a fifth of Gordon's dry gin), Ava performs a series of rituals on the 45-yard line of the stadium. She invokes deities such as Damballa, the voodoo serpent God, and Marie Laveau, paying homage to the spiritual roots of New Orleans voodoo.

"I took out a speaker... I'm dancing this dance for Damballa... pouring this gin right at the 45-yard line." ([03:10])

The atmosphere within the Superdome becomes electrifying as Ava engages with the 67,000-strong audience, chanting blessings and holding up her grigri bag to signify the activation of their "mojo."

"Ashe, Ashe, Ashe." ([03:35])

Impact on the New Orleans Saints

Ava's ritual seemingly catalyzes a remarkable shift in the Saints' performance. She recounts a dramatic moment where a key Rams player fumbles the ball, leading to the Saints securing their first playoff victory in over three decades.

"But we know why. I mean, this good player with the Rams fumbled the ball, and they're hearing it. He's fumbled. They're winning." ([08:15])

Buoyed by this success, Ava continues to nourish the spiritual momentum by making additional offerings at Congo Square, a historically significant site for African American spirituality. Her relentless devotion and public displays earn her widespread recognition, including features in major media outlets like Time magazine, HBO, ESPN, CNN, and The New York Times.

"This was just the best. And this is how I became the voodoo priestess of the NFL." ([11:50])

Ava's Reflections and Aftermath

Despite her initial triumph, Ava reflects on the transient nature of success. She acknowledges that the Saints' newfound prowess was not permanent, implying that external factors and internal team dynamics continued to influence their destiny.

"As the world turns, sometimes what's on top of the world has to come down." ([12:30])

Ava humorously ties her spiritual endeavors back to her personal beliefs, balancing her voodoo practices with her Catholic faith. Her story underscores the intricate interplay between tradition, belief, and the unpredictable nature of sports.

Conclusion

Ava K. Jones' narrative offers a mesmerizing glimpse into how spirituality and sports can intersect in unexpected ways. Her tale of performing voodoo rituals to uplift the New Orleans Saints not only entertains but also invites listeners to ponder the unseen forces that might influence real-world events. Through vivid storytelling and heartfelt reflection, Ava leaves the audience with a memorable account of faith, culture, and the quest for victory.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "There is such a thing as the spirituality of football." – Ava K. Jones ([02:32])

• "The Superdome was built upon an ancient cemetery. And, you know, it's really not cool to go plop a sports facility on top of somebody's ancestors." – Ava K. Jones ([02:52])

• "Ashe, Ashe, Ashe." – Ava K. Jones ([03:35])

• "This was just the best. And this is how I became the voodoo priestess of the NFL." – Ava K. Jones ([11:50])

• "Sometimes what's on top of the world has to come down." – Ava K. Jones ([12:30])

Reflections

Ava's story is a testament to the power of belief and the lengths to which individuals will go to support something they are passionate about. Whether one views her actions as genuine spiritual interventions or as a colorful narrative embellishment, the impact of her story resonates, highlighting the human desire to connect, influence, and find meaning in the outcomes of endeavors as significant as professional sports.

Transcript

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[Dan Kennedy]

Welcome to the Moth Podcast. I'm Dan Kennedy. So this week we want it to be one of those weeks where we get right into the story. The story you're about to hear by Ava K. Jones was told live in New York City in 2002. The theme of the night was objects of stories about talismans and treasures.

[Ava K. Jones]

You may think that the great American sport of football is all about speed and muscle, about the most valuable players and the best coaches. But I'm here to tell you tonight that that there is such a thing as the spirituality of football. It may very well be that the ability to win or Lose a Super bowl may be contained right here in this little red flannel charm bag. Y'all may call it a mojo bag, not to be confused with Austin Powers mojo, but we in the Crescent City in New Orleans call it a grigri bag. Now I began my meteoric rise to fame as a voodoo priestess in the world of NFL sports. On a cold December day in the year 2000, I was called upon by the New Orleans Saints to perform a miracle in the Superdome. The Saints, often called ain'ts, had never won a playoff game in 34 years. And to make matters worse, they were playing the St. Louis Rams. So they decided that they would bring in the big guns, and that would be me, voodoo, and Yoruba priestess Ava K. Jones. Now, the problem was compounded by the fact that the Superdome was built upon an ancient cemetery. And, you know, it's really not cool to go plop a sports facility on top of somebody's ancestors. It's just not kosher. So many felt that that was the reason for the less than stellar record of the Saints over the years. So somebody got the bright idea, well, call in Ava Kay. She'll fix it. You know, and I love my city. I love the saints, you know, and I'll try anything once. So I came to the Superdome equipped with my dance troupe, voodoo m cumba, drummers and dancers, my pet boy constrictor, esprit, fruits and flowers for the ancestors and a fifth of Gordon's dry gin for the spirits. Of course, now I and my dance troupe are marching towards the 45 yard line with all of the determination of Dr. Peter Veeckman and the other Ghostbusters. You know, I have a job to do. I'm going to get the job done. So I'm on the 45 yard line, and it's a good omen because 4 and 5 equal what? 9. 9 is the number of my patron goddess, Oya. And oh ya is the goddess of the winds, the hurricanes. She's the queen of the cemetery, the marketplace, the ancestors. And she is also the goddess of change. And God knows we needed a change. So right there on the 45 yard line, we begin the drumming and the dancing. I take out a speaker, you know, and I'm dancing this dance for Damballa, the voodoo serpent God, in honor of Marie Laveau. I'm pouring this gin right at the 45 yard line, you know. You know, and the end. The energy in the Superdome was so thick, you could cut it with a knife, you know. I'm holding up the grigri bag, okay? God, I'm holding my grigri bag to 67,000 fans and we're cheering the voodoo. Amen. Ashe, Ashe, Ashe. And just imagine, 67,000 fans are cheering back at me. Ashe, Ashe, Ashe. And I held the grigri up my snake the voodoo doll, and I told the fans we got our mojo working. And they all said, yes, indeed, yes indeed. You know, and I was feeling pretty good at that point. You know, I. I said, lord, I know that the ancestors are appeased. You know, the fans are, you know, becoming loyal again to the saints. I've motivated them, and I know the ancestors under the dome are appeased. But being a good Catholic girl, okay, Mm hmm. I was not gonna take any chances. And furthermore, I. When I entered the Superdome, I had run into Father John, who was the former pastor of St. Jude's now, for those of you who don't know, St. Jude is the saint of difficult and impossible cases. You know, it's like St. Jude and the saints were made for each other. So I rush off to St. Jude's I stay in the church, you know, making my invocations and talking to St. Jude until they put me out the church. That didn't deter me. So I'm outside the church in the car before St. Jude's in the freezing cold, listening to the game on the radio, on my knees, screaming at anyone who would pass. Pray for the saints. Pray for the saints. You know, I'd give money to beggars, drunks, anybody who would pass because I didn't want to block my karma, okay? I mean, I really gave out more money that day. Just anybody. Some of these people I knew were lying, but I didn't want to take any chances. So I'm listening and, you know, the saints are winning. They are just winning and winning. And I'd run out of the car, get on my knees, pour a little gin, right, for the church, you know, to thank the ancestors. The saints are ancestors too, you know, they're just ancestors in the church. So I give them some gin. But something happened. I think the saints started to get a little too cocky, okay? And you know, vanity is one of the seven deadly sins. So I got the. After I bought another, bigger gin, you know, my gin bottle was getting kind of low. I saved some because I had other work to do. So we drove over to Congo Square. And Congo Square is a very spiritual place for African Americans. It's the only place where my ancestors could lawfully gather in great Numbers. And so the spirits of the African ancestors are strong and powerful there. So I went over to Congo Square in the dark, got on my knees, of course, poured another swig of gin, and I proceeded to talk to the ancestors in Congo Square. So I'm carrying on this dialogue at my favorite tree where the ancestors, you know, congregate, telling them, look, this is me, Ava K. Y'all know me. I'm just asking you a favor. But I'm just asking you to please go talk to the ancestors at the Dome and just tell them, you know, y'all got a dialogue going out there in the spirit world, so you go talk to them for me. So I'm on my knees in Congo Square, pouring gin, braying, and lo and behold, I hear it on the car radio for some unknown reason. But we know why. I mean, this good player with the Rams fumbled the ball, and they're hearing it. He's fumbled. He's fumbled. The Saints have won the first playoff game in 34 years. You know, it's like I couldn't believe it. So I poured another swig of gin and I headed towards the Superdome. But on the way there, I stopped at the cemetery by the grave of the great Marie Laveau and poured out my. This was truly my last swig of gin. And I headed to the Superdome. And of course, people had recognized me from the earlier ritual. And they were shouting, woot, woot, woot. Who let the dogs out? Whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop. Who let the dogs out? And I'm screaming like an idiot, Idiot. God let the dogs out. St. Jude, let the dogs out. The ancestors let the dogs out. You know, shaking that rattle, blessing the crowds. You know, I mean, it was glorious. It was just magnificent. You know, it was a Saturday Night Live moment right there in the dome. And I tell you, this was just the best. And this is how I became the voodoo priestess of the NFL. In fact, I ended up in Time magazine. I was on hbo, espn, cnn. And I tell you what the mother load for me was. I ended up in the New York Times, you know, and for somebody from New Orleans, it doesn't get any better than that. You know, the New York Times. All right, and so that's my story. But, you know, as the world turns, sometimes what's on top of the world has to come down. And of course, the Saints did, but that's another Gris story. Thank you.

[Dan Kennedy]

World renowned voodoo priestess Ava K. Jones was born and raised in New Orleans and is a leading authority on New Orleans Voodoo and African Spirituality. She is the inspiration behind Disney and Pixar's Mama Odie character in the Princess and the Frog. She was born on Halloween, holds a law degree and and leads the award winning Voodoo Micumba Dance Ensemble. The Moth is a non profit organization, so consider supporting our free podcast by going to our podcast contribution page or by becoming a Moth member and you can do [e-mail] Our podcast host, Dan.

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Kennedy is the author of the book Rock An Office Power Ballad. Learn [e-mail] thanks to all of you.

[Dan Kennedy]

For listening and we hope you have a story worthy week. Podcast audio production by Paul Ruest at the Argo Studios in New York Podcast hosting by PRX Public Radio Exchange Helping make Public Radio more [e-mail].