A text message from an old friend, living in Haiti, contained the statement: “a nation in confusion”, among others, with regards to recent events in that country. Haiti, formerly known as Hispaniola, in the West Indies and with a population of about 11 million people, has experienced quite a pathetic history. Haiti is a nation that came into existence by the heroic efforts of black slaves, after winning a 10-year war with France, and had independence in 1805. It was described as the bloodiest war in modern history.
Apart from natural catastrophes, Haiti has violent and unstable political history, such that its economy is an unstable one, characterised by a “carry-go” buccaneer system. The tragedy of Haiti began with France and America in an effort to destroy the dream of freedom and the seed of justice. Heavy debts imposed on Haiti as a precondition to recognise its Independence crushed that poor country more than earthquake and other natural disasters did.
When every country in the Americas was based on slavery, Haiti was an example of freedom. In its 1805 constitution a provision was made that any person of African descent arriving in the shores of Haiti would become a free citizen. That provision inspired slaves in America to escape from their masters in the quest for freedom. Naturally this embittered slave owners and placed Haiti in difficulties with White slave masters.
While heroic Black slaves laid the foundation for a free Haiti, war lords that participated in the 10-year war with France, installed themselves as new masters in an independent Haiti. Thus, militancy, violence and land grabbing became common features which turned Haiti into a nation in confusion, a nation where all races of mankind converge. Despite the heterogeneity of that nation, African culture, with voodoo as a national religion, predominate in Haiti.
There are many lessons we can learn from the turbulent history of Haiti, one of which is the indomitable nature of the human spirit, or the impetus in man which comes up in the face of threats to life. Poor run-away slaves that settled in Hispaniola, with little to eat, unending threats from natural disasters, and no weapons to face a mighty France, fought for 10 years. Despite calls to surrender, the Black soldiers swore that they would rather perish fighting, than surrender to become slaves again.
Another vital lesson is that those who throw away or destroy their natural and cultural heritage and adopt foreign culture, miss more than they can appreciate. Voodoo cult or religion, with Haiti as global headquarters, despite vilifications, remains an inexplicable power with its root in African heritage. France lost its war with the freedom fighters of Hispaniola largely because of the use of Black Power”. How the magic worked out, no history book has any record, but that secret had been preserved undistorted and undisclosed.
There is yet another lesson, namely, that life demands some personal sacrifices in times of perplexity and confusion, from individuals and nation. Haiti was one of a few nations that recognised the rebel-state of Biafra during that period of sad history. A few knowing insiders saw failure coming when strict conditions given by the Voodoo-master of Haiti were not implemented in Biafra. Last straw that broke a camel’s back was a failure to give up something as a token price which required humility. That sacrifice was not made!
With that sad Biafra episode, one can see a revisitation of the “Achilles” enigma of power. An infant can be dipped in “River Styx” by a mother, but the child’s heel may not be covered by the water. This is the idiom of power which custodians of Voodoo cult know the truth about. In the deep soil of the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, an ancient relic was buried after the 10-year war with France, bearing a curse for those who misuse power, money and abuse the goodwill of the masses in that country.
A nation in confusion includes any country that throws away or undermines the oaths of its founding fathers, to build a nation where no one would be oppressed. The “Achilles enigma of power” includes the contradictions which arise when power holders seek to introduce internal enslavement after slaves had fought slave masters, to gain political independence.
One of the conditions which can heighten the state of confusion is when “the falcon cannot hear the falconer”, causing “things to fall apart”. Yeats did not have any nation in mind when he wrote his prophetic poem: “The Second Coming”. When the Duvalier dynastic dictatorship in Haiti could no longer hear the cries of the masses, Voodoo master of the land sent a warning that was ignored. Similar dark currents gather in many countries, giving rise to increasing state of confusion.
A state of widespread confusion comes as a culminating point of series of past lapses and negligences. The immediate past Voodoo master in Haiti was a physics professor whose Caucasian wife was shocked that her husband took up such duty. The husband advised her to look beyond science and objective senses for meaning and reality. It is not possible for all humans to see things in the same way, neither have prevailing religious dogmas told us all the truths.
Creation is governed by strict laws and a self-regulatory system which ensure absolute justice at the end of the day, despite imbalances caused by humans. Subterfuge and blusters can never change or challenge the foundation that sustains creation. The message from Haiti gave a hint that nations across the globe would experience upheavals that would bring about forced changes for the better. Such changes demand that excess loads, impurities and wrongs be purged quickly.

By: Bright Amirize
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.