Brief Ourstory of Makandal with Pictures

Makandal, The Black Messiah.

Makandal had the last name Francois, because his owner's name was: Sebastien Francois Ange Lenormand de Mezi.

He came from Africa (somewhere in Makanda city, kingdom of ancient Kongo) at the age of 12 around 1740, fully educated in the ways of life. He might have learned about Islam and Christianity back home in Africa.

He was very advanced in agriculture, herbs, root medicine and supernaturally gifted. His main priorities were education, languages, skills, organization. He wanted to unite everyone regardless of race, tribe, belief, ethnicity, etc. When maroons escaped slavery, they kept to their tribes, therefore divided and hated each other. Makandal's long term goal was to bring them all together to end slavery for good. He strategically accomplished his mission through his followers: Bookman, Toussaint, Dessaline, Sanite, etc    

During his secret meetings with slaves, the content of his speeches was to convince the slaves that they deserve equality-liberty-dignity of family-education-self government. He did not hate the whites, but would fight anyone who was against liberty. 

All slaves were forced to convert, be baptized into Christianity and receive the christian teachings. No one can prove that he chose to be part of a particular religion.  

He was the first ex-slave to create a military organization with ranks such as lieutenants, captains and so on in the Secret Societies of the maroons. He taught them strategies unknown to the French. He was the first known black leader. He used the slaves on the plantations as secret agents for his revolution.

These same maroon troops could be the ones Bookman used to continue the revolution, as it is said that he used to meet the troops at the same location where Makandal used to have his meetings: in the middle of the forest. Ourstory reports that Bookman, as a black overseer was mean to the slaves. Toussaint was a plantation and slave owner at that time. Those two did not have too much in common with Makandal when the revolution had started.

He is the man MOST responsible for Ending Slavery in Ayiti. After him came Bookman, Toussaint, Dessalines... among many others. 

He lost his right arm while on the job, then revolted to join the marooners. He was tied to a post, managed to pull the post from the ground and broke free using the left arm.

He started the revolution a long time before 1791. One could easily say that he ended the physical slavery in Ayiti, in the islands and in the world. 

He was considered the most dangerous of all the slaves. The european doctors had no explanation for his many talents. Even though they did not like him, they still called on him to help them when they could not take care of health issues. He knew how to mix plants for healing and for poison.

He was called by many names: The master of the revolted blacks, healer, teacher of medicine, veterinarian, physician, priest, etc    

He learned to speak french secretly, became so fluent so fast that the slavers were shocked, mad and scared. 

He was burned at a stake on Jan 20, 1758, in front of the same church in Cap Francais (now Cap Ayitian) where Vincent Oge was executed. It has been said also that his body was never found because he had the ability to disappear or turn into something else. It is reported that he had done so many times to escape from the slavers. The slavers would tremble in fear when they hear his name.

He is the proof that all real people have extraordinary powers to break free from mental chains now, today, using Divine knowledge, wisdom and consciousness.

Below you will see his picture on Ayitian money (20 gourdes) back in 1968.

There are many books written about him (The kingdom of this world, Uncle Tom's cabin, American gods, Black millenium, Black image in the white mind, The Black Jacobins), etc and also many plays.

Sources:
Drama: King Cesar or The Negro Slaves 1801
Makandal, histoire Veritable / Makandal, a true story, Mercure de France, Sacred Service, Macandal.org, The Kingdom of the world, American gods,
Video game The Assassin's Creed: Liberation, Open door to liberty, Black Millenium,
Account of a Remarkable Conspiracy