As part of Act III of "Meetings from here and elsewhere" initiated by the Swiss Association "Laboratorio Arts Contemporains" also based in Benin, a delegation led by the Supreme Leader of voodoo, His Majesty King Dada Daagbo Hounon Houna II, accompanied by Queen Na Deffon Houénan Quenum L. Omontcha, is on a special tour in Haiti from 15 to 28 April.

Act III ("Returns from Africa"), aims to highlight the cultural diversity between Africans and Afro-descendants of the West Indies. On the agenda of the tour of King Daagbo, meetings with the voodoo community, debates, conferences and cultural activities. During his tour, the King will meet voodoo leaders, political authorities and participate in the traditional ceremonies of "Lakou" Souvenance.

On Monday, Limond Toussaint, the Minister of Culture paid a courtesy visit to the "Lakou" Souvenance, as part of the annual festivities composed including of choreographic and cult performances related to certain voodoo rituals. These festivities which extend from April 16 to 18 attract thousands of Haitian visitors and some curious foreigners.

The Minister met with the Patriarchs of the "Lakou" Souvenance and especially with the highest authority of the voodoo of Benin, King Daagbo Hounon Houna II. Later, Minister Toussaint visited the neighboring "Lakous" Badjo and Soukri.

For Limond Toussaint, these visits to the "Lakous" of the Artibonite fall under his responsibility, as Minister of Culture, to contribute to the valuation and promotion of the Haitian Cultural Heritage.

Learn more about the "Lakou" :

According to Architect Jean Prophète, the "Lakou" consists of a gathering of small "kayes" (small houses), clustered around a space in clay court amid a tangle of garden, governed by kinship and under the undisputed authority of a patriarch. It is the basic agglomeration of the peasant family.

HL/ PI/ HaitiLibre