Mythologizing the Lwa Demanbre

Abstract

Abstract The importance of demanbre, the sacred plot of family land in Haiti, is undisputed, but the development of demanbre from land to lwa (an elevated Vodou spirit) has not yet been explored. Building upon the integrative approaches of Karen McCarthy Brown and Colin (Joan) Dayan, this study aims to demonstrate the cultural imagination of the Haitian people, not only through the recounting of history but through the interpretational probabilities, ambiguities, and complexities inherent in the Vodou worldview. In cases such as this, where the Haitian peasantry left behind no written records, it is necessary to use alternative means to ensure their voices are heard. It is with great respect for the seminal works of Brown and Dayan that I expand upon the possibility of mythologizing the origin of the lwa Demanbre, using an interdepartmental approach that combines history, anthropology, and the study of myth.