Baron Samedi And the Voodoo Loa of Haiti

Death is an inevitability that every person must face. It is the fate of all humans. However, to make death easier, each religion provides a guide that assists the transition from the human world to the afterlife. Within the religion of Haitian Voodoo, the task is carried out by the Loa known as Baron Samedi. Loa are spirits in the African diasporic religion of Haitian Voodoo. Baron Samedi’s name translated means “Lord Saturday,” and he is the most recognizable of the Voodoo Loa.

Voodoo Religion and the Powers of Baron Samedi

To understand the Baron and his powers, we must first understand the religion that he hails from. Catherine Beyer writes in her article, “An introduction to the Basic Beliefs of the Vodou (Voodoo) Religion” that:

“Vodou (or Voodoo) is a monotheistic religion that is often misunderstood. Common in Haiti and New Orleans, Vodou merges Catholic and African beliefs to form a unique set of rituals that include Voodoo dolls and Symbolic drawings.”

Thus, the practitioners of Voodoo believe in one Supreme God, whom they call Bondye. However, Bondye’s existence is beyond human comprehension and because of that, He does not intervene directly in human affairs. This is where the Loa or Lwa come in. These are the primary spirits of Voodoo, and each one is responsible for a particular aspect of life. They also possess dynamic and changing personalities, depending on the duties they perform. They act as intermediaries between humans and Bondye.

• The Origins of Voodoo, a Misunderstood Religion
• Zombies and Voodoo: The Living Dead Religion of Modern Haiti

Britannica describes the relationship between the humans and Loa as follows:

“The Lwa play a major role in the lives of Vodou devotees. In fact, the relationship between the Lwa and the living is intense, demanding, and yet reported to be quite fulfilling. Human beings serve the Lwa, whom they love, respect, and fear. In fact, Vodou practitioners always, out of respect, use the prefix Papa (father), Manman (mother), or Metres (mistress) while referring to a lwa. In return for their devotion and piety, the living expect blessings, protection, and favors from the lwa.”

Simbi is one of the many Voodoo Loa and her powers can be over water, plants, or sorcery in Haitian Voodoo religion. (Public domain)

Loa can be understood as being like angels, but different in the sense that they each possess their own unique personalities. Therefore, to navigate through daily life, Voodooists must cultivate personal relationships with the Loa, to have their needs met. Relationships can be formed by making offerings at personal altars created to a particular Loa and by participating in elaborate ceremonies of dance, music, and spirit possession.

The Loa are divided into three families: Rada, Petro, and Ghede. Within this article, the primary focus will be on the Ghede, who, as Beyer describes, are:

“Ghede lwa are associated with the dead and also with carnality. They transport dead souls, behave irreverently, make obscene jokes, and perform dances that mimic sexual intercourse. They celebrate life in the midst of death. Their color is black.”

Baron Samedi is the head of the Ghede family of Loa, ruling over them with his wife, Maman Brigitte. Both figures are associated with the dead and the underworld.

Baron Samedi is the head of the Ghede family of Loa, ruling over them with his wife, Maman Brigitte. Both figures are associated with the dead and the underworld. (Andrey Kiselev/Adobe Stock)

The Unique Role of Baron Samedi

Baron Samedi has a unique presence. He is often described by his followers as wearing a black tailcoat, accompanied by his iconic top hat. In some cases, they even depict him as having a skull instead of a face. A proper description of the Baron is provided by Fritz in his article, “ Who is Baron Samedi of Haitian Voodoo?”:

“The man is dressed in an impeccable purple and black suit, accompanied by an ornate top hat. His shoes are fine leather. He smokes cigars and sips from a glass of rum. Taking a closer look at the man, you see that his face is not normal at all, but a skull, grinning at you from beneath his black hat.

He introduces himself as Baron Samedi, master of the dead. Confused about how you came to be lying in the bottom of an open grave, he explains: The grave is yours. Baron Samedi dug it for you himself, to grant you passage from the mortal world. He cracks more jokes, drinks, and smokes some more and welcomes you to the afterlife.”

From the description, the Baron seems to be a mix of the Greek gods, Hades (god of the dead) and Thanatos. Like Thanatos, he guides the souls of the dead into the afterlife. On the other hand, like Hades he rules over the underworld, ensuring that the dead remain dead. However, Baron Samedi is not a deity like Hades or Thanatos, therefore, many see him as the angel of death, although a bit more on the eccentric side.

Baron Samedi has the power to decide who should die and who can go on living. He isn’t simply a spirit who guides the souls, he has the power over life and death. He ensures that the veil between the living world and the dead is never disrupted, and that the dead never return as zombies to bother the living.

Thus, anyone wishing to connect with the dead must evoke the help of the Baron, who then determines whether to allow the dead to contact the living world or not. He may also be asked to dispel ghosts that may be haunting the living and even asked to ward off death. In return, the Baron may expect gifts for his deeds, which can vary according to his mood; but mostly he is content with gifts of black coffee, cigars, or spicy rum.

However, there is a flip side to his character. He is said to be just and kind, with a soft spot for children. He prefers children to live full lives before they meet him. Much of his time is spent lingering at the crossroads between life and death. This shows that he knows the value of life and wants the person he is transporting to the afterlife to have had a complete life. He is also a protector of life, having the power to cure any disease or wound, but he will only do so if the person is worth saving. Baron Samedi is powerful enough to counteract powerful curses and hexes.

• Venezuelan Cult Still Practices Shocking Self-Harming Rituals
• Ancient Angels: Heavenly Messengers or Myths? The Origins of Cherubim – Part I

Authors Micah Issitt and Carlyn Main explain the Baron’s abilities further:

“Baron Samedi may be petitioned for help with conception, as he represents the confluence of sexuality and death. He is also invoked as the patron of many professionals who come into contact with death, such as gravediggers, funerary officials, and mortuary workers. Because Samedi has absolute authority to decide when and how an individual will die, he is also thought to favor children and to intervene on the behalf of ailing children, ensuring that they live a full life before they arrive in the underworld.”

A boy dressed as Baron Samedi. (Andrey Kiselev/Adobe Stock)

Baron Samedi has various incarnations, they each perform a distinct role and even have their own personality traits and mannerisms. They are Baron La Croix, Baron Cimitiere, and Baron Criminel. Sometimes these personas are depicted as separate beings that have a strong link to Baron Samedi.

Baron La Croix is depicted as a sophisticated spirit of death; he is quite cultured and debonair. He is very philosophical in his views about death and finds death both absurd and humorous. He offers a constant reminder to his followers about delighting in life’s pleasures before it comes to an end.

Baron Cimitiere performs the duty of guardian of the cemetery, digging the graves and welcoming the deceased to the underworld. He even protects the graves, so that the dead aren’t disturbed. He is a dashing and debonair character, so much so, that even his horses wear tuxedos and top hats. He has expensive tastes, smokes the best cigars, and drinks fine liquor. However, Baron Cimitiere is still just as crass as the other Ghede, but with a polite manner and upper-class airs.

Baron Criminel is the most feared among the three, he is believed to be the first murderer who was condemned to death. People invoke him when they wish for swift judgment to be pronounced. A person possessed by Baron Criminel will shout obscenities, spit, and even try to stab the people around him. Sometimes people must sacrifice a black chicken by burning it alive because it is believed that the shrieks of the animal appeal to the Baron’s cruel nature.

There are symbols associated with the Baron as well, these include coffins, black goats and roosters, and skeletons. Even the colors black and purple, which appear in his clothing, have become associated with this powerful Loa.

A Haitian Voodoo altar created during a festival for the Ghede spirits, Boston, US. (Calvin Hennick / CC BY 3.0)

Media and History

Many film and pop culture characters take their influence from Baron Samedi, like the “Shadow man” or Dr. Facilier in Disney's “The Princess and the Frog.” His character was inspired by two prominent figures in the Voodoo pantheon, Baron Samedi and Papa Legba. His clothing and skull mask are aspects taken from the Baron. In the 1973 Bond film “ Live and let Die,” Baron Samedi is portrayed by Geoffrey Holder. He imitates the habits and traits of the Loa.

• Annie Palmer, The White Witch of Rose Hall
• Ireland’s Tuatha Dé Danann: Descendants Of The Fallen Angels From Canaan

Throughout history, many have used religion to ensure their control over their people. One of them is the former president of Haiti, Francois Duvalier, who believed that he was the reincarnation of Baron Samedi. In 1959, Duvalier collapsed into a coma, which lasted nine hours before he regained consciousness. There is evidence that he may have suffered considerable brain damage from his collapse, and after regaining consciousness he began to behave like the powerful Loa, Baron Samedi. Duvalier dressed in black, trying to replicate the look of the Baron, and even tried to copy the way he is believed have spoken.

Baron Samedi is an important Loa in the pantheon of Haitian Voodoo spirits. He welcomes the dead to the afterlife; protects people from untimely death; and deals with the ghosts that try to haunt the living. He is responsible for all things associated with death; however, he still finds time to enjoy his cigars and rum. He embodies an undying life force and is a reminder for people to live their lives to the fullest before meeting their end. Practitioners of Voodoo can be assured that they have “friends on the other side.”

Top image: Baron Samedi and his Voodoo powers over death continues to be a powerful force in the Caribbean region, especially in Haiti.                         Source: Andrey Kiselev/Adobe Stock

By Khadija Tauseef