A zemi (also spelled cemi) refers to a deity or ancestral spirit within the spiritual beliefs of the Taíno people, who were indigenous to the Caribbean. The term represents the spiritual entities that were central to their cultural and religious life.
In addition to representing spirits, a zemi is also the name for the sculptural objects used to house these deities or ancestors. These physical representations served as focal points for worship and spiritual connection. The plural form of the word is zemi’no or cemi’no.