Haitian

This dynamic banner studded with glistening beads and sequins is a type of vodou flag called drapo, a piece carried on parade and traditionally created by a temple’s congregants as the vivid embodiment of a specific lwa, or deity. This flag honors Damballa, the serpent divinity of rain, wisdom, and fertility. Damballa is also associated with Saint Patrick, who mastered the serpents of Ireland. The form, making, and significance of drapo reflect the cultural syntheses and revolutionary connotations of vodou itself: sources include African ceremonial textiles, Catholic processional banners, and military regalia.