El general haitiano en marcha

General haitiano en marcha, caricature of a Haitian general from a Dominican newspaper in 1845, the year after secession from Haiti. Though ambiguous in whether it is pro- or anti-Haitian, the artist seemingly knows something about the usual images of Ogou/Ogun/Ogunde, a lwa associated with the military. Note how the general, though dressed in sandals, is proudly en marcha with French military-styled dress but carries fish, plantains, and maize as tribute, manje lwa, for Ogou.The dog he forces to follow him on leash may represent the eastern half of Hispaniola, or perhaps another allusion to the god of war, Ogou. Many Haitian artists depict Ogou in a remarkably similar way, smoking tobacco, carrying food, a saber, and, dressed in military gear. A painting by Andre Pierre, painter and houngan, depicts a remarkably similar Ogoun Badagry in the 20th century, as noted by others. Sara Johnson's Fear of French Negroes was the main source for this post.