Here’s a list of 14 key figures and historic stories related to enslaved and oppressed Africans at home and across the diaspora who used Voodoo or similar form of African spirituality to resist, rebel, and overcome colonial powers:
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1. Dutty Boukman (Haitian Revolution, 1791)

A Houngan (Vodou priest), Boukman led the ceremony at Bois Caïman that ignited the Haitian Revolution. His spiritual invocation motivated enslaved Africans to rise up against French colonial rule, leading to the first successful slave revolt and the establishment of Haiti, the first Black republic.

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2. Makandal (Haitian Revolution, 1758)

François Mackandal, a maroon leader and Vodou practitioner, is famous for using poison, which he prepared using his knowledge of herbalism and spiritual rituals. He led a network of enslaved Africans in poisoning French colonizers and their livestock in Haiti.

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3. Marie Laveau (New Orleans, 19th Century)

The renowned Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau, wielded great influence in her community, blending African spiritual practices with Catholicism. Though primarily known as a healer and spiritual leader, her practices were also a means of resistance, maintaining African spiritual traditions under colonial rule.
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4. Zumbi dos Palmares (Quilombo dos Palmares, Brazil, 1600s)

Zumbi, the leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares, a community of escaped enslaved Africans in Brazil, used spiritual rituals related to African religious practices like Candomblé, which has Voodoo elements, to protect and guide his people in their fight against Portuguese colonizers.
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5. The Zanj Rebellion (Iraq, 869-883 AD)

Enslaved East Africans, called Zanj, in Iraq rebelled against the Abbasid Caliphate in a prolonged and brutal uprising. The Zanj were influenced by spiritual and ritualistic practices that gave them resilience during their fight for freedom.
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6. Nanny of the Maroons (Jamaica, 18th Century)

A spiritual leader and Obeah practitioner, Queen Nanny led the Windward Maroons in Jamaica. She combined African spiritual traditions, including Obeah (similar to Hoodoo), with military tactics to resist British colonization and maintain the independence of the Maroon communities.
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7. Tacky’s Rebellion (Jamaica, 1760)

Led by Tacky, an Akan man from modern-day Ghana, the rebellion incorporated Obeah practices for spiritual protection. Tacky and his followers used these traditions to rally against the British plantation owners in Jamaica in one of the largest and most serious slave rebellions in the British Caribbean.
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8. The Cuban Santería Resistance (Late 19th Century)

Enslaved Africans in Cuba practiced Santería, a syncretic religion blending Yoruba traditions with Catholicism. The rituals and spiritual power of Santería were crucial in maintaining African identity and resisting the cultural erasure imposed by Spanish colonial rule.
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9. The Igbo Landing (Georgia, 1803)

During the transatlantic slave trade, Igbo captives in Georgia led a mass suicide by walking into the water, believing their spirits would return to Africa. This act of defiance is deeply connected to African spiritual beliefs and has become a symbol of resistance.
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10. The Gullah People (South Carolina and Georgia)

The Gullah people, descendants of enslaved Africans in the Lowcountry, preserved their African heritage, including Hoodoo practices, to resist cultural assimilation and maintain their autonomy. These practices helped sustain community and resistance efforts against slavery.
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11. The Haitian Revolution and the Role of Vodou (1791-1804)

Vodou was central to the success of the Haitian Revolution. Vodou priests and priestesses like Boukman, Mambo Marinette, and others led spiritual ceremonies that united the enslaved Africans and motivated them to overthrow the French colonizers.
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12. Grandy Nanny (Suriname, 18th Century)

A powerful spiritual leader among the Ndyuka Maroons in Suriname, Grandy Nanny practiced Winti, an African-based religion with elements of Voodoo. Her leadership and spiritual power helped guide the Ndyuka in their successful rebellion against the Dutch colonizers.
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13. The Nat Turner Rebellion (United States, 1831)

Nat Turner, a preacher and spiritual leader, was deeply influenced by African spirituality, including aspects of Hoodoo. His rebellion in Virginia was motivated by visions and signs he interpreted through his spiritual practice, sparking one of the most famous slave uprisings in American history.
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14. Kumina Spiritual Practices (Jamaica, 19th Century)

The Kumina religion, practiced by descendants of African indentured laborers in Jamaica, helped enslaved and free Africans to maintain cultural and spiritual resistance against British colonization. Kumina has deep connections to the Kongo religion, and its practices were used in rituals of rebellion and healing.
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These figures and stories showcase how African spiritual traditions like Voodoo, and other related practices played pivotal roles in resisting colonialism, slavery, and cultural erasure across the diaspora.

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