A Haitian Vodou Priestess, Cecile Fatiman was an invaluable member of the Haitian Revolutionaries and without her guidance, Haiti may have never achieved independence from the French State during the 18th century. Fatiman was born to a Corsican Prince and an Enslaved African woman during the late 1700s. She spent most of her young life as an enslaved woman. During this period, she was also separated from her two brothers due to the divisions that occurred during the American Slave Trade. However, her most significant contributions to history would come much later on in her life. During this period, European Enlightenment ideals began making their way further toward the American continent and this would go on to inspire Fatiman to escape the clutches of slavery. Mainly she would be inspired by the French revolutionary motto “liberté, égalité, fraternité” which each helped represent an important aspect of the French Revolution. This idea greatly influenced her position in the revolution as she helped apply this to the need for autonomy and freedom expressed by Haitian citizens. She would go on to this through the sacrifices and rituals she held in Haitian Maroon Colonies. Mainly, she would hold spirit rituals, a type of ritual believed to allow the person being possessed to embody the spirit of a Vodou god, thus making a stark contrast to the oppression felt by those who were enslaved. However, these rituals would go on to spark the revolution directly as well. This was done so as she and fellow Maroon colonists would join each other in a ceremony where they sacrificed a creole pig and drank its blood to connect with the Vodou gods. From there, they swore an oath to avenge the deaths of their fallen Haitians and kill the white colonists. Many may view this depiction as barbaric or revolting, yet, it is also a powerful statement towards how the Western world views traditions. Furthermore, it is a powerful testament towards the perseverance of African culture and religion during a period that aimed to eradicate such traditions. This ability to inspire great change and preserve African tradition perfectly highlights Cecile Fatiman's influence.

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