In the early hours of August 21, 1791, Dutty Boukman, an influential enslaved leader, conducted a Vodou ceremony at Bois Caïman, which drew together a large assembly of enslaved people in Saint-Domingue, present-day Haiti. The ceremony was symbolic, emphasizing the cultural and spiritual practices that had been maintained amongst the enslaved population despite the oppressive conditions they faced. It served as a rallying point, igniting a sense of unity and determination among the participants. The vodou rituals included invocations and promises of a fight for freedom against the brutal plantation owners.

As the ceremony concluded, participants were galvanized to revolt, marking the beginning of a widespread rebellion. They launched coordinated attacks on plantations, killing slave owners and destroying property. This uprising quickly escalated, leading to the Haitian Revolution, a protracted struggle that involved multiple uprisings, battles, and international conflicts, ultimately resulting in the first successful slave revolt in modern history. The revolution would culminate in the establishment of Haiti as the first independent Black republic and the first nation in the world to abolish slavery completely.

The events at Bois Caïman served as the impetus for enslaved people to assert their rights, challenging colonial powers and the institution of slavery, which had long been unopposed. The significance of this uprising extended beyond the boundaries of Saint-Domingue, inspiring enslaved populations across the Americas and having profound implications for colonial rule, slavery, and race relations worldwide.