have suggested that Makandal may have come
from the village of Makandal, which is located in
the Loango region in what is now the Republic of
Congo, which should not be confused with the
DRC (formerly known as Zaire). This assump-
tion is based on two facts. First, enslaved African
were sometimes named after their hometowns.
Second, it is on record that Makandal had a close
friend named Mayombe, which is also a village in
southern Congo.
Makandal is believed to have been captured
at the age of 12 and taken to St. Domingue,
now Haiti, between1745 and 1750, and sold to a
French colonist named Le Normand de Mézy.
Makandal is alleged to have told some of his con-
fidants that his father was a figure of authority in
Africa. In fact, Makandal’s ability to speak, write,
and read Arabic fluently lent credence to the view
that he was born to an affluent family. Usually,
only privileged families could afford to educate
their children in the 18th century in Africa.
He is believed to have been a Muslim when he
was captured into slavery. Makandal is also said to
have possessed an incredible knowledge of herbs
and medicine. In fact, his vast knowledge of herbs
and medicine was sought after by blacks and whites
alike, making him a popular figure. Makandal
treated illnesses among the enslaved Africans, the
French, and the livestock. He became thegardien
de bêtesor caretaker of the white man’s animals
after he lost a wrist in a farm accident.
Makandal is said to have been held in quite
high esteem by Le Normand de Mézy until he had
an affair with an enslaved African woman.
Makandal was subsequently sentenced to 50
lashes, but he ran away because such a sentence
usually and ultimately meant death. He settled in
the mountains, where he became the leader of the
Maroons, that is, of those Africans who had
managed to escape the plantocratic environment.
A Fugitive LeaderMakandal became even more famous and leg-
endary for his magic and ability to poison during
his years as a fugitive. After his escape, he became
determined to liberate the Africans from white
oppression. He was so successful in recruiting
additional Maroons that it is believed that he had
agents in all of the colonies. At the height of his
operations, it is estimated that Makandal had
more than 20,000 maroons who belonged to
ethnic groups that, hitherto, did not coexist, working
for him. More than any group of people,
Makandal relied on the pacotilleurs, the free
blacks who visited the white plantations to sell
cheap goods to the enslaved Africans. Makandal
used them as conduits to relay information
throughout the plantations. Well aware of the mil-
itary might of the French, Makandal sought the
financial assistance of the free blacks who bene-
fited from the colonial economy.
Most of the free blacks were, however, too
content with their positions in society and did not
want to risk their livelihood by joining
Makandal’s course. Without the needed help from
this group, Makandal resorted to his easiest
resources: magic and medicine. Although it is not
known exactly when he became a Vodou practi-
tioner, it is safe to assume that this most probably
occurred during this period of his life because he
was free to practice the religion.
He and his agents were alleged to have fatally
poisoned more than 6,000 people, both blacks
and whites. Because his plan was to cause the
collapse of the colonial economy, he is believed
to have poisoned enslaved Africans who refused
to participate in his plan. It is estimated that
some plantations lost as much as 90% of their
labor force through his poisoning schemes. The
animals on the various plantations were not
spared either as their work and sale contributed
to the colonial economy.
Makandal’s grand plan was to annihilate all
white people in St. Domingue. To this end, he
commissioned his agents to poison the water sys-
tem of the second-largest city, Cap François, now
Cap Haitien. However, he was betrayed and
captured during a dance festival at a plantation
owned by a white man named Mr. Dufresne.
Knowing the difficulty of capturing Makandal
because of his manipulations, Tafia, a locally
made rum, was abundantly distributed, and this
made his capture easy after he was inebriated.His Death and Legacy
Makandal was able to escape from his cell, but he
was recaptured and eventually sentenced to death
at the stake. He was burned at the stake onMakandal 401