Baron Samedi - The Powerful Lwa Of Life And Dead In Haitian Voodoo

The Haitian people believe that the first man buried in a cemetery becomes the manifestation of its guardian who is reality the Baron, an entity considered to hold knowledge of the dead and the underworld. Baron Samedi often comes into the world as a beggar with a unique presence, but he is depicted as a tall black man wearing a formal attire which includes a black tuxedo and a top hat. Along with his iconic cane, the baron often appears with his face painted to resemble that of a skull, no wonder why in some cases he is depicted as having a skull instead of a human face. The Baron is represented by phallic symbols and noted for obscenities and debauchery, with a particular fondness for tobacco and alcohol. There are few symbols associated with the Baron as well and these include coffins, black goats, roosters and skeletons. Even the colours black and purple which appear in his clothing have become to be related with this powerful Lwa. To understand the Baron and his powers, we must first understand the religion that he was born into. Voodoo is a monotheistic religion originated from French colonies and common in Haiti and New Orleans, Voodoo brings together Catholic and African beliefs to form a unique set of rituals including dolls and symbolic drawings.