Meaning
A practitioner of obeah — the Afro-Jamaican system of folk magic and spiritual power. People consult the obeah man (or obeah woman) to work charms, break spells, tell fortunes, heal sickness, gain protection, or, it is feared, to 'set' harm on an enemy.
Examples
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Dem go a di obeah man fi a guard against dem enemy.
They went to the obeah man for a charm against their enemies.
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People fraid di obeah man cause dem seh him have power.
People fear the obeah man because they say he has power.
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She seh a obeah man set di sickness pon har.
She says an obeah man laid the sickness on her.
Origin
From 'obeah' (Afro-Jamaican folk sorcery, of Akan/Igbo derivation) plus 'man'; the practitioner who works it. See [[obeah]].
How it’s used
Regarded with a mix of fear, respect, and secrecy. Obeah was long outlawed in Jamaica.