Bitasyon · 21 Lwa · Dance · Culture · Children · World
The sacred lakou where Haitian culture lives, dances and shines
Bitasyon — the sacred lakou. A space for dance, song, percussion and sharing where believers, seekers, families and visitors from around the world come to honor the 21 Lwa, learn Haitian traditional dances, and celebrate the living beauty of Vodou.
Every item in our shop is an authentic representation of Haitian Vodou culture. Wearing a vêvê means carrying history. Sharing these symbols with the world is a way of honoring our ancestors and educating with beauty.
Sacred Jewelry
Hammered brass pendant. Vêvê of the guardian of crossroads. Haitian artisan finish.
$38 USD
Add to cart →Apparel
100% cotton. Baron vêvê hand screen-printed. Unisex. Available in midnight and bone white.
$32 USD
Add to cart →Art & Décor
Engraving on Haitian mahogany. Vêvê of Erzulie Freda hand-chiseled. Individually numbered piece.
$95 USD
Add to cart →Sacred Music
Traditional asson in natural gourd and beads. Instrument of the Houngan and Manbo. Handmade in Haiti.
$55 USD
Add to cart →Haitian Fashion
Cotton dress embroidered with vêvê motifs. Available in Ogou red and Damballah white. Made by Haitian artisans.
$88 USD
Add to cart →Books & Knowledge
Artisan book featuring all 21 vêvê illustrated with their Lwa, colors and meanings. Perfect for children and adults.
$28 USD
Add to cart →Ritual Candles
21 candles in the colors and scents of each Lwa. Soy wax, natural dyes. Gift box included.
$65 USD
Add to cart →Cultural Bag
Natural canvas tote, Agwé vêvê hand-printed. Haitian Creole slogan on the back. Made in Port-au-Prince.
$24 USD
Add to cart →Parents bring their children to Bitasyon to learn where they come from. Haitian Vodou culture belongs to the youngest too — its dances, songs, and symbols. Here, children grow up with pride and knowledge.
Every class is age-appropriate, playful and deeply rooted in tradition. Children learn the vêvê, the names of the Lwa, basic rhythms and the first steps of the great traditional dances.
Introduction to Vodou, vêvê coloring, simple songs, rhythm games with percussion
Yanvalou, Nago, Banda — fundamental technique. History of the dances and the spirits.
Advanced technique, percussion, songs in Haitian Creole, preparation for celebrations.
Parents and children dance together. One Saturday per month. All levels welcome.
Bitasyon invites people from every country to share the great Haitian celebrations. Each event is an open door — come learn, dance, taste and honor alongside us.
January 1st · National Holiday
The Soup of Independence
The sacred soup that recalls Haitian freedom. On January 1, 1804, the ancestors broke their chains. This pumpkin soup that enslaved people were forbidden from eating is now shared with the entire world.
March–April · Lent
Fèt Rara — Street Procession
Street procession during Lent — vaksin horns, marching bands, street songs. Rara is the most vivid and popular Vodou celebration. From the streets of Haiti to the streets of the world, Bitasyon parades joy and faith.
April–May · Rainy Season
Agriculture Celebration
Honoring Azaka Medeh, the peasant Lwa who guards the fields and feeds the people. Dance of the earth's work, planting songs, offerings of corn and cassava. Fertility celebrated with joy and gratitude.
May 18th · National Holiday
Haitian Flag Day
On May 18, 1803 in Arcahaie, Catherine Flon sewed the first Haitian flag. Bitasyon celebrates with dances, patriotic songs, blue and red costumes and the history of the ancestors who gave everything for freedom.
November 1–2
Festival of the Death Spirits
Baron Samedi, Maman Brigitte and the Gede dance between the living and the dead. The most mysterious and joyful feast of the Vodou calendar — black and purple costumes, spiced rum, wild Banda, laughter and tears intertwined.
July · Summer
Grand World Gathering
Bitasyon's grand annual celebration. Three days of traditional dances, live percussion, conferences, cultural shop, Haitian cuisine and ceremonies. Practitioners, curious minds and families from every continent come together.
Scroll to discover the 21 Lwa of Haitian Vodou — each spirit with their vêvê symbol, sacred colors and domain.
Papa Legba
Carrefours · Portes
Marasa
Jumeaux · Enfance
Damballah
Serpent · Création
Ayida Wèdo
Arc-en-ciel · Ciel
Erzulie Freda
Amour · Beauté
Erzulie Dantò
Mère · Protection
Ogou Feray
Guerrier · Fer · Feu
Baron Samedi
Mort · Résurrection
Maman Brigitte
Mort · Cimetière
Agwé
Océan · Abondance
La Sirène
Mer · Beauté · Magie
Azaka
Agriculture · Terre
Simbi
Eaux douces · Magie
Marinèt
Tempête · Liberté
Loko
Arbres · Médecine
Ayizan
Marchés · Initiation
Ogou Badagri
Politique · Diplomatie
Bosou
Force · Taureau · Combat
Kalfu
Nuit · Magie noire
Gran Bwa
Forêts · Nature · Plantes
Zaka Mò
Terre · Mort · Cycles
Every week we learn the fundamental movements. Each dance is tied to a Lwa, a drum rhythm, and a nation.
Rada Nation · Lwa Damballah
♩ Rada · Undulating
The most sacred dance in Vodou. The body undulates like the serpent Damballah — fluid spine, bent knees, shoulders rolling like waves on water.
Key movement: spinal wave rising from the ground up
Nago Nation · Lwa Ogou
♩ Nago · Warrior
The warrior dance of Ogou. Feet strike the earth, chest thrust forward, arms in parade. Strength and dignity in every movement.
Key movement: foot stomps, grounding into the earth
Petwo Nation · Lwa Erzulie Dantò
♩ Petwo · Intense
Fire and transformation. Sharp movements, lateral slides, intense hip rotations. The raw energy of Haitian earth.
Key movement: lateral slides and explosive rotations
Gede Nation · Lwa Baron Samedi
♩ Gede · Liberating
The Gede dance honors life in the face of death. Free, subversive hip rolls — the absolute joy of a body that celebrates its own existence.
Key movement: free rolling of the pelvis and hips
Kongo Nation · Lwa Agwé
♩ Kongo · Fluid
Dance of the waters and fertility. Body tilted toward the earth, hip sway like ocean waves. Connection with the Kongo ancestors.
Key movement: hip sway, forward lean
Rada Nation · Lwa Legba
♩ Rada · Vibrating
The shoulder dance — an invitation to the spirits. Rapid shoulder isolations while the rest of the body stays grounded. Each shudder opens an invisible gate.
Key movement: shoulder isolations, ascending vibrations
Ibo Nation · Lwa Erzulie Freda
♩ Ibo · Graceful
Slow and graceful, dance of sacred beauty and love. Hands and wrists speak. Every gesture is an offering to Erzulie Freda.
Key movement: slow hand and wrist gestures
Petwo Nation · Lwa Marinèt
♩ Petwo · Whirlwind
Dance of the storm. Full body rotations, arms whipping through the air — the dancer becomes the wind. Wild, liberating energy.
Key movement: full body spins and whipping arms
Kongo Nation · Lwa Simbi
♩ Kongo · Grounded
Rhythmic steps, torso sway, arms tracing spirals through space. The vital Kongo energy flows from the ground all the way to the crown.
Key movement: arm spirals, torso sway
At Bitasyon, we dance to the music of Haitian artists who have carried Vodou culture to the entire world. These songs are our prayers, our anchors, and our pride.
Boukman Eksperyans
Vodou Roots · Mizik Rasin
Masters of Mizik Rasin. Their rhythms blend Vodou, reggae and Haitian rock — a bridge between the Lwa and the modern world.
RAM
Vodou Rock · Electric Rara
RAM electrified Rara. Richard Morse and his band gave Haitian Vodou a global voice from the Oloffson Hotel in Port-au-Prince.
Toto Bissainthe
Traditional Song · Vodou
The sacred voice of Haitian Vodou. Her songs in Creole are living prayers — a soul that passes through the body and speaks directly to the Lwa.
Azor
Troubadour · Traditional Music
Guardian of Haitian peasant songs. Azor embodies the oral tradition — his melodies are those the ancestors sang in the fields.
Précil Riva
Chant Sacré · Cérémonie
Ses chants cérémoniels accompagnent les rituels Vodou depuis des décennies. Une référence vivante des cantiques rada et petwo.
Eddy François
Vodou Jazz · Troubadour
Pionnier du Vodou jazz haïtien. Eddy François a tissé les rythmes sacrés dans une forme artistique contemporaine sans jamais perdre l'âme.
Sò Ann
Chant Gede · Cérémonie
La voix des Gede, des morts et des vivants. Sò Ann chante à la frontière entre les deux mondes — sa voix appelle Baron Samedi lui-même.
Tradition Orale
Chants ancestraux · Mémoire
Les chants que nos ancêtres ont appris par cœur — transmis de génération en génération sans partition, portés par la voix et le corps.
Soup Joumou — Fèt Endepandans
Dégustation de soupe, danses patriotiques, chants de l'indépendance · Famille & enfants bienvenus
Annuel
Classes de Danse Traditionnelle
Yanvalou · Nago · Petwo · Banda · Mayi · Zepòl · Ibo · Marinèt · Kongo — Tous niveaux
Chaque semaine
Nuit de Percussion Sacrée
Tambours Rada, Petwo & Kongo live · Asson · Apprentissage des rythmes · Communion
Mensuel
Conférence & Activité Culturelle
Histoire du Vodou · Symbolisme des vêvê · Projection · Invités spéciaux · Boutique ouverte
Mensuel
Fèt Drapo — Jour du Drapeau
Costumes bleu & rouge · Défilé · Chants patriotiques · Danses · Histoire haïtienne
Annuel
Fèt Rara — Procession dans les rues
Cors vaksin · Bande à pied · Chants de rue · Costumes · Participation du public mondial
Annuel
Fèt Azaka — Célébration Agriculture
Offrandes · Chants paysans · Gastronomie haïtienne · Jardinage communautaire · Enfants
Annuel
Fanmi Ansanm — Cours Parents & Enfants
Timoun 4–17 ans · Parents invités · Vêvê à colorier · Initiation aux rythmes · Jeux culturels
Mensuel
Fèt Gede — Fête des Esprits
Costumes Baron Samedi · Banda · Offrandes au cimetière · Célébration de la vie & de la mort
Annuel
Gran Fèt Bitasyon — Rassemblement Mondial
3 jours · Danse · Percussion · Boutique · Conférences · Cuisine · Invités du monde entier
Annuel · 3 jours
Classes hebdomadaires · Percussion mensuelle · Célébrations haïtiennes · Boutique culturelle · Programme enfants · Portes ouvertes au monde entier.