Bois Caiman Ceremony, Boukman Dutty and the slave revolution
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The most widely accepted explanation of the ceremony is that it was simply a time to witness a Vodou ceremony, which may of called for the fight and blood of the current white rulers.
There are various retellings and versions of the ceremony, the most traditional suggest revolutionary Boukman Dutty led a prayer; self named ‘Leader of the Slaves’;
“The god who created the earth; who created the sun that gives us light.
The god who holds up the ocean; who makes the thunder roar.
Our God who has ears to hear.
You who are hidden in the clouds; who watch us from where you are.
You see all that the white has made us suffer. The white man's god asks him to commit crimes. But the god within us wants to do good.
Our god, who is so good, so just, He orders us to revenge our wrongs. It's He who will direct our arms and bring us the victory.
It's He who will assist us. We all should throw away the image of the white men's god who is so pitiless.
Listen to the voice for liberty that sings in all our hearts.”
Although Boukman’s prayer did seem aimed at a God, it was suggested to be more of an attack on living beings, in this case the white French oppressors. Boukman preached how he needed his people to survive and escape the oppression, and that through a blood fuelled revenge this would be achieved.
Within the actual ceremony it is thought a spirit was often called upon to invoke the group. A pig was also sacrificed, and tradition suggests all participants, to show the rage and anger within the slaves, and prepare them for the imminent uprising, drank the blood of the pig.
Although the ceremony is imbedded into Haitian mythology, the truth of such events in 1791 is beside the point for most Haitians. It is something deep in Haitian culture, and a ceremony that is still talked about today.
