Myal

Myal is an indigenous religion in Jamaica and was first practiced by the native Arawakan speaking peoples who first peopled Jamaica. Due to the integration of Africans in the indigenous communities during the colonial era it developed into an Afro-Jamaican spirituality. Myal is a complete belief system that incorporates the Arawakan cosmovision, ritualistic magic, spiritual possession and dancing. Unlike Obeah, which is more commonly associated with evil magic, Myal is associated with more positive spiritual activities. Over time, a syncretic version of Myal emerged known as Revivalism, though Myal in its purer form still exists in indigenous/tribal communities and in particularly rural remote areas.

Obeah in Jamaica is viewed as the antithesis of Myal and is viewed as witchcraft in Myal cosmovision. In Myal it is viewed as a misuse of traditional religion and the spirituality. According to Myalists, obeahmen were even employed by the enslavers to use ritual magic against indigenous communities. There are records of planters employing obeahmen to use love magic to forcefully compel women on the plantation into romantic relationships with them or to further the effects of slavery. Hence the rivalry between Myal and Obeah.