Voodoo in the Crosshairs: How Haiti’s Turbulent Streets are Silencing a Sacred Tradition
Day of the Dead in Haiti: A Somber Celebration Amidst Violence and Poverty
Day of the Dead commemorations in Haiti were much quieter on Friday, as the country continued to experience an outbreak of violence.
In previous years, hundreds of worshipers in white and branded candles crowded the main cemetery in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. However, this year’s celebration was subdued due to the worsening poverty and violence in the country.
On Friday morning, armed men were seen in the cemetery, which is located in an area under the control of gangs. Despite the challenges, a few vodou followers ventured to commemorate the Day of the Dead.
Worshipers surrounded the grave of the first person buried in the Port-au-Prince cemetery, believing it to house the remains of the guardian of the dead, known in Haitian Vodou as Baron Samedi. They lit candles and built altars with bones, food, and jugs of contraband rum, called cleren, to offer to the spirits of the dead in exchange for protection.
Port-au-Prince cemetery director Raymond Valcin, himself a Vodou follower, expressed his disappointment at the low turnout. “Because of the uncertainty, the day is very different to previous years,” he said. “The people, the Gede pilgrims and the traders who used to come did not come. There is nothing.”
The surge in gang violence that began in February this year has left thousands dead and many homeless. According to the latest figures released by the United Nations authorities, more than 1,740 people were killed or injured in Haiti between July and September, an increase of almost 30% compared to the previous quarter.
Vodou is an official religion that is widely practiced in Haiti. It originated in the 16th century when slaves in West Africa were forced to practice Catholicism and associate saints with the spirits of African religions.
Vodou followers believe in the importance of honoring the spirits of the dead, and the Day of the Dead is a significant celebration in the Haitian calendar. Despite the challenges faced by the country, the tradition continues to be an essential part of Haitian culture and identity.