Voodoo spirit - Haiti Observer Blog

It will prove to be a case of which story is to be believed. In the case of the murder of Dennis Donahue, in which Haitian Valdano Riche has been indicted, the the court has already been witness to gruesome crime scene photographs which show the deceased lying on the ground, with his head suffused in blood. According to to the state attorney, the murder was committed because the accused wished to break a "spell" placed on him by the deceased. The evidence supporting this so far being more than that the defendant is of Haitian descent and voodoo is prevalent there, the state says it will show evidence from the interrogation of the defendant admitting to this version of events.

Read more →  

Annually, during the summer months of Haiti, Voodoo believers make the trek from all over the country to the Saut-d'Eau waterfall in Ville Bonheur. There they feast and dance in a primitive expression of ecstasy, preparing themselves for a kind of baptism under Sant d'Eau waterfall's gushing stream.

This perennial event began in 1847 when witnesses described an apparition of the Virgin Mary appearing on a palm tree. Since then other Voodoo spirits of Iwa (one of the chief gods of Voodoo) have also manifested at the Saut-d'Eau waterfall.

The Voodoo religion was brought to Haiti by Congolese slaves, becoming embedded in Haiti's culture, early in its history. But the primary religion of faith in Haiti has always been the Catholic Church. The Voodoo religion has managed to survive, in part, because of its openness to outside influences. For this reason, Catholicism has helped to shape its religious rites. And the baptism at the Saut-d'Eau waterfall is an example of this influence.

Read more →  

A child's grandmother, Sylvenie Thessier who is 71, is likely to go to prison for watching her grand-daughter being set on fire and not taking any action.

According to a report from New York Daily news, back in June 2009, Marie Lauradin sprayed rum over her child and set her on fire during a voodoo ceremony in Queens Village, in an attempt to clear her from evil spirits. The mother was accused of setting her daughter Frantzcia Saintil on fire.

Now, the grand mother, Sylvenie Thessier will be charged as well for negligence as she was present at the time of the incident and did not do anything to protect the child.

Read more →