Haiti: Secrets of the Historical Facts of Bois Caïman and the Salvation of the Slaves
- The essay presents the Haitian Revolution as a major turning point in world history and the Bois Caïman ceremony as its formal start.
- It replies to theologians and pastors who describe the ceremony as a pact with the devil.
- It cites accounts in which Jean-Baptiste Vixamar Legrand offered himself in sacrifice for the liberation of all slaves, and others in which a pig was offered.
- The author argues that underdevelopment should be explained by scientific research with rigorous methods and not by religion alone.
- He warns of the risks of desecrating the heritage of any people.
The essay takes up four questions: whether culture determines a country's poverty, the importance of the Bois Caïman ceremony as historical and intangible heritage, the risks of desecrating any people's heritage, and the historical facts of the ceremony. The author treats the Haitian Revolution as a major turning point in world history and the Bois Caïman ceremony as its formal start.
He sets out the competing accounts he cites, which present the ceremony either as a pact with the devil in the evangelical reading or as a sacrifice for the liberation of all slaves, naming Jean-Baptiste Vixamar Legrand, together with an offering of a pig. He argues that underdevelopment should be explained by rigorous scientific research and warns that the loss of a people's memory is a risk.
How to cite
Centre de Recherche Intégrée et Scientifique d'Haïti (CRISH), 2023, Haiti: Secrets of the Historical Facts of Bois Caïman and the Salvation of the Slaves, https://lescientifique.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Haiti-secrets-des-faits-historiques-du-Bois-Caiman-et-salvation-des-esclaves.pdf
- Rights holder
- Centre de Recherche Intégrée et Scientifique d'Haïti (CRISH)