A fascinating account of the mystic Afro-Haitian rituals inherited from the days of slavery. With these songs, drums and trances of possessed initiates, vodou deities were called upon in authentic ceremonies considered by French colonists as the work of the Devil. This complex religion inspired fi ctional zombies and magic, united slaves and spurred the fi ght for Haiti’s independence as the fi rst black republic in history. Thousands of Haitian slaves deported to Louisiana and Cuba spread this voodoo legacy throughout North America, where it became one of the deep roots of jazz (and then rock and funk) and Afro-Cuban musics. In this companion- set to “Jamaica Folk-Trance-Possession”, Bruno Blum invokes Papa Legba, the spirit of communication, and deciphers some rare sound-documents, the best of the recordings devoted to voodoo: the supreme key to Afro-American music forms. Patrick FReMEAUX
