Boïs Cayman - Haitian slave revolt anniversary - Prospect Park

22 images slideshow

http://picasaweb.google.com/stefpix/ProspectParkBoisCaManVodouCelebration120820081723/photo#s5233745261889961554

This Sunday August 10th some members of the Haitian diaspora in Flatbush
set a tent and a table with offering
by the pond near the Parkside and Ocean Aves entrance.
They were celebrating the anniversary of the Haitian revolution
that started between August 14/16 1791.

This festivity has been happening in prospect Park since 1990 with the
exception of last year.

Different people, priests and intellectuals
were talking in French and Creole about freedom and equality.

3 bands played at different times vodou and rara music.

home made food was sold

a french guy asked me for my email address so he could get some pictures.

the earlier rain made the event a bit smaller -
but everything went on until midnight or so.

from wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boukman

> Dutty Boukman was a houngan, or vodoun priest whose death was considered a catalyst to the slave uprising that marked the beginning of the Haïtian Revolution. Boukman was born in Jamaica.
> In late August of 1791, Boukman conducted a ceremony at the Bois Caïman and prophesied that the slaves Jean François, Biassou, and Jeannot would be leaders of a slave revolt that would free the slaves of Saint-Domingue.
> Soon after the uprising began, French authorities captured Boukman and executed him by beheading. The French then publicly displayed Boukman's head in an attempt to dispel the aura of invincibility that Boukman had cultivated. The attempt failed.
> Haitians honored Boukman by admitting him into the pantheon of loa (Vodou spirits).