In Fon mythology, the rainbow serpent that supports the earth is Aido Hwedo.
Aido Hwedo, also written Ayida-Weddo or Aido Wedo, is a powerful serpent associated with the creation and stability of the world. In Fon traditions of Benin, the serpent served Mawu-Lisa, the creator deity or paired creator force. As the world was formed, Aido Hwedo helped carry or shape the divine creation, leaving features such as rivers, valleys, and mountains behind.
The serpent is often described as having complementary male and female aspects. One aspect coils beneath the earth to support its weight, while the other is associated with the sky, rainbows, water, and thunder. Earthquakes may be explained as the serpent shifting beneath the world; some versions say it feeds on iron and that the earth would sink if the supply ran out.
The name and figure continue in Haitian Vodou, where Ayida-Weddo is a major loa frequently paired with Damballa. This Caribbean form is related to, but not identical with, every Fon account. Lisa, Mawu, and Danh are connected figures or names in regional traditions, but Aido Hwedo is the rainbow serpent itself.