A Political History of Haitian Vodou
In this lecture and conversation, we explore the unique place of Vodou in Haitian political life.
We dive into the tenets of the faith and practice to understand its relationship with political movements from the 18th into the 20th centuries, and to map the campaigns against it from both within and without.
There are few religions that have been more demonised than Haitian Vodou in modern world history. Though ridiculed, it remains an institution of immeasurable political importance. In this exciting introduction to the political consciousness of African religions in the diaspora, we navigate the pillars of the faith, exploring its grammars, materialities, and physicalities to understand why it remains such a consequential force in Haitian political life.