Wednesday, August 14, 2024, as part of the celebration of the 233rd anniversary of the Bois Caïman Congress, Lesly Condé, Former Consul General of Haiti in Chicago (August 2004 - May 2018) delivered a message of reflection that we invite you to read and share.

Message from Lesly Condé :

"Dear compatriots and friends everywhere,

I am more pleased and more enthusiastic every year as I find myself in your company to commemorate the anniversary of his highly significant event in our history. We purposely stay away from the interpretation given by our history books to the formidable gathering that was hosted on the night of the 14th to the 15th of August 1791 by Bookman at Bwa Kayiman. Instead of saying that it was a black magic ceremony during which african rites were practiced instead of the christian rites taught by the french masters, we prefer to speak about an extraordinary historical congress that deserves a better place in world history.

August is a very important month in our country's history. In the night of August 14, 1791, while slavery was shining in all its brutality, an event happened in the rich colony of Saint-Domingue. That event signaled the beginning of the end of a world order based on the cruel exploitation of humans by humans. Three centuries of physical and psychological abuses had not succeeded in destroying the spirit of those men and women members of the black race who had in common the language of human dignity, the love of freedom. This gigantic event to which some historians still refer as "Ceremony of Bwa Kayiman" deserves to be seen as the first steps of an important revolution that the world still insists on ignoring.

One of the main organizers of the Congress was Boukman. That english name confirms to us that he was a slave brought from the neighbouring island of Jamaica. Quite likely initiated to Islam from his native Africa, he was often seen with his Quran. That is where the name Book Man comes from. He was the imam, and the historic meeting took place in the woods near his home (Bwa Kay Imam). The fact that our first historians emasculated our heroes, and minimized their exploits, is nothing surprising. That sort of thing is expected to happen when the detractors of a nation write its history.

This world that claims to be so in love with the ideals of liberty and justice, should join us every year in celebrating this courageous gathering as a declaration of love to universal freedom, freedom for every human.

Today, it is hard to believe that a nation resulting from so much bravery, deserves to be so mercilessly humiliated in its 218th year of existence. We will, above all, not say that our ancestors were brave enough, proud enough and determined enough to organize the important “Bwa Kay Imam Congress”, were not prepared for freedom. Our country is still at the heart of a struggle for justice and democracy in a world which is totally hostile or indifferent. We are clinging to our right to survive with dignity, and on our own terms. That is the spirit of the “Bwa Kay Imam Congress”.

Today, we salute the historic “Bwa Kay Imam Congress“ as the first genuine universal declaration of human rights."

See also :

Message from Lesly Condé 2024:

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42670-icihaiti-father-s-day-message-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42423-haiti-mother-s-day-message-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42158-haiti-national-diaspora-day-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-42158-haiti-journee-nationale-de-la-diapora-message-de-reflexion-de-lesly-conde.html

2024 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42061-haiti-221st-of-thedeath-of-toussaint-louverture-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42012-haiti-easter-2024-reflection-message-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41981-haiti-holy-week-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41944-haiti-international-day-of-la-francophonie-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41837-haiti-social-international-women-s-day-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41575-haiti-black-history-month-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41414-haiti-14th-of-the-2010-earthquake-message-from-lesly-conde-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41336-haiti-220th-anniversary-of-independence-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

Message from Lesly Condé 2023 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41316-haiti-social-new-year-s-message-from-lesly-conde-2024.html

Message from Lesly Condé 2022 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38451-haiti-christmas-end-of-year-message-from-lesly-conde.html

Message from Lesly Condé 2021 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35584-haiti-social-wishes-from-lesly-conde-on-the-occasion-of-the-new-year.html

HL/ HaitiLibre