Breaking Haitian: A Vodou-Konbit Vision for Haiti’s Future

“Haiti has a Western veneer, with an educational system, courts and a government, but this has very little to do with the way things really work. We should stop being ashamed and recognize what we are: a country with an African social structure that revolves around the Vodou community. Vodou governs everything, our moral codes, the way we rationalize, eat, cure, and work the land. We have to find a Haitian answer in harmony with what we are.”

–Ati François Max Gesner Beauvoir

Using Ati Beauvoir’s suggestion above as a blueprint, “Breaking Haitian” represents the transformative energy of a people who must adapt, innovate, and challenge norms while staying rooted in our identity. The following examples highlight how a radical shift in governance, culture, economy, and identity can redefine what it means to be Haitian in a rapidly changing world.

A Government Inspired by Konbit and Rooted in the Wisdom of Vodou

In a land where the drums of Vodou and the practice of konbit rise in harmony, Haiti’s governance should reflect the soul of its people—a spirit interwoven with the sacred, the communal, and the ancestral. To fashion a government from the essence of konbit while embracing the wisdom of Vodou is to create a structure guided not by earthly powers alone, but by divine inspiration and the enduring bond between the living and the spiritual.

1. Neighborhood Konbit Councils (NKCs): Sacred Circles of Community

At the base of governance would be the Neighborhood Konbit Councils, conceived as sanctuaries of collective action and spiritual guidance. These councils would be more than administrative bodies; they would be spaces where the people gather to work, to deliberate, and to honor the spirits.

Role of the Lwas: Each council would have a designated houngan or manbo (Vodou priests or priestesses) who would serve as spiritual advisors, calling upon lwas such as Legba, the gatekeeper, to open paths for progress, or Kouzin Zaka, the patron of agriculture and industriousness, to bless the fields and labor.
Function: In the spirit of konbit, these councils organize communal labor for agriculture, sanitation, and local infrastructure, beginning each endeavor with ceremonies to honor the spirits and ancestors.

Through the counsel of the lwas, the NKCs remain grounded in spiritual integrity, ensuring that decisions align with divine will and communal good.

2. Regional Collaboration Assemblies (RCAs): Federations of Earth and Spirit

As the NKCs unite, they form Regional Collaboration Assemblies, which blend pragmatic governance with ceremonial reverence. These assemblies oversee larger regional projects, ensuring the equitable distribution of resources and labor while maintaining spiritual balance.

Role of the Lwas: Each assembly would honor Ezili Dantor, protector of families and communities, to safeguard their deliberations. Simultaneously, Agwé, ruler of the seas, might be invoked in coastal regions to guide fisheries and maritime projects.
Cultural Integration: Assemblies would sponsor annual festivals where communities celebrate their achievements through drumming, dance, and storytelling, invoking the lwas to share in their joy.

The RCAs transform governance into an act of reverence, uniting spiritual blessings with the practical necessities of life.

3. Departmental Development Councils (DDCs): Pillars of Divine and Material Strength

At the departmental level, the Development Councils oversee transformative projects that transcend local concerns, such as building schools, hospitals, and roads. These councils embody the Vodou principle of balance, ensuring that development respects both human needs and the natural world.

Role of the Lwas: Damballa, the serpent spirit of wisdom and creation, would be invoked for guidance in strategic decisions, while Ayida Wedo, his counterpart, ensures harmony in execution. Ceremonies honoring them would precede major initiatives.
Function: The councils draw on regional wisdom and ancestral guidance to implement sustainable solutions, integrating Vodou principles of reciprocity and respect for nature into policy-making.

These councils elevate governance by merging the spiritual and the material, ensuring that progress is guided by both wisdom and reverence.

4. National Konbit Assembly (NKA): The Sacred Center of Unity

At the pinnacle of this structure is the National Konbit Assembly, where representatives from every department convene to chart the nation’s course. This assembly, a grand manifestation of konbit and Vodou, becomes the heartbeat of Haiti’s governance.

Role of the Lwas: The assembly would begin each session with ceremonies to honor Ayizan, guardian of initiation and knowledge, and Ogou, the warrior spirit, to ensure courage and integrity in governance.
Function: Policies crafted here reflect the wisdom gathered from the grassroots, ensuring that the needs of the most humble are given the same weight as those of the powerful.

The NKA stands not as a sterile bureaucracy but as a living testament to Haiti’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

5. The Chief Steward: A Bridge Between Worlds

The leader of this system is not a president in the conventional sense but a Chief Steward, chosen for their humility, wisdom, and ability to navigate the worlds of the living and the spiritual.

Role of the Lwas: The Chief Steward, guided by Bondye (the supreme creator) and the lwas, would act as a mediator rather than a ruler. They consult with spiritual leaders to ensure alignment between national policies and divine will.
Function: Their role is not to command but to serve, embodying the principle of leadership as stewardship.

The Chief Steward becomes a symbol of unity, humility, and faith.

6. Ministry of Ancestral Wisdom and Cultural Preservation

Central to this structure is a ministry dedicated to safeguarding Haiti’s spiritual and cultural heritage. The Ministry of Ancestral Wisdom would integrate the teachings of Vodou and konbit into every aspect of governance.

Role of the Lwas: The ministry honors Gede spirits, who connect the living and the dead, ensuring that the wisdom of ancestors informs policy.
Function: This ministry organizes national ceremonies, maintains sacred sites, and educates the youth in Vodou traditions and konbit practices.

Through this ministry, the heart of Haitian culture beats strong, reminding the nation of its roots.

Reflections on a Vodou-Konbit Republic

Such a government would be a marvel to behold—a fusion of the temporal and the eternal, the practical and the spiritual. Each level of governance, from the humble council to the august assembly, would draw upon the boundless energy of the lwas and the unyielding solidarity of the people.

In such a republic, Haiti would rise not as a nation merely of laws and institutions, but as a sacred community, where every decision is an offering, every act of labor a prayer, and every citizen a guardian of the divine order. For in the wisdom of konbit and Vodou, Haiti may yet find the keys to its enduring sovereignty and greatness.