The Haitian Revolution

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You can’t understand Haiti without understanding the slave revolt and war for independence that shaped its early days. We hear from Laurent Dubois, author of Avengers of the New World: The Story of the Haitian Revolution. First though, a story from Alex Gallafent about Haiti and vodou and historical misunderstandings. (Image of Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L’Ouverture: GETTY IMAGES) Download MP3

Haiti’s vodou religion

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The earthquake in Haiti was recently blamed on a ‘pact with the devil’. Anthropologists say the claim has a long history, going back to centuries-old misrepresentations of Haitian vodou. And they say the currency of such ideas will make a difference to Haiti’s future, too. The World’s Alex Gallafent reports. Download MP3

• BBC photo journal: Vodou in West Africa
• Trailer for 1932 movie “White Zombie”