
In this episode of Mysteries of Haitian Vodou, Papa Mystique sits down with Houngan Samba’L, a fourth-generation Houngan from Haiti, to uncover the truth behind the use of Catholic Saint images in Vodou. Was it tradition—or survival? Houngan Samba’L explains how enslaved Africans used religious imagery as a form of marronage to protect their practices and their lives. He explores the roles of the Taino, the conquistadors, and the Africans in shaping Haitian Vodou, and why the Veve—not the image—is the true language of the Lwa. Natara Rose guides the conversation with insightful questions, as Papa Mystique breaks down the layers of history, resistance, and culture in this powerful and eye-opening episode.