Haiti – History: Lesly Condé delivers speech to celebrate 233rd anniversary of Cayman Islands Congress in Boise

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Haiti – History: Lesly Condé delivers speech to celebrate 233rd anniversary of Cayman Islands Congress in Boise
2024/08/15 10:19:33

On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, as part of the celebration of the 233rd anniversary of the Cayman Islands Congress in Bois, former Haitian Consul General to Chicago (August 2004-May 2018) Lesly Condé published a message of reflection that we invite you to read and share.

Message from Lesly Condé:

Dear compatriots and friends from all over the world:

Every year I am more delighted and enthusiastic as I find myself with you in commemorating the anniversary of this event of great significance in our history. We have deliberately avoided the interpretation given in our history books of the great gathering organized by Bookman at Bwa Kayiman on the night of August 14-15, 1791. We do not want to say that it was a black magic ceremony in which African rites were practiced instead of Christian rites taught by French masters, but rather we prefer to speak of an extraordinary historical congress that deserves a better place in world history.

August is a very important month in the history of our country. On the night of August 14, 1791, when the cruelty of slavery was still shining, an event took place in the rich colony of Saint-Domingue. This event marked the end of a world order based on the brutal exploitation of man by man. Three centuries of physical and psychological abuse had not broken the spirit of black men and women, who shared a common language, that of human dignity and love of freedom. This grand event, which some historians still refer to as the “Ceremony of Bwa Kayiman”, should be seen as the first step of an important revolution that the world still insists on ignoring.

One of the main organizers of the congress was Bookman. This English name confirms to us that he was a slave brought over from the neighboring island of Jamaica. He was probably a convert to Islam from his native Africa and was often seen holding the Koran. This is how the name “Man of the Book” came about. He was the Imam and the historic congress was held in the woods near his home (Bwa Kay Imam). It is not surprising that our first historians belittled our heroes and played down their exploits. This kind of thing is to be expected when a country’s detractors write its history.

The world, which claims to love the ideals of freedom and justice, should join us every year in celebrating this courageous gathering to declare our love for universal freedom and for freedom for every individual.

Today, it is hard to believe that a nation born so bravely could have been so mercilessly humiliated in its 218 years of history. First of all, we would not say that our ancestors were brave enough, proud enough, determined enough to organize the important “Congress of Imams of Bouaké” without being ready for freedom. Our country remains at the center of the struggle for justice and democracy in a hostile or indifferent world. We insist on the right to live with dignity and on our own terms. This is the spirit of the “Congress of Imams of Bouaké”.

Today we salute the historic Congress of Imams of Bouaké, the first truly universal declaration of human rights.”