Baron Samedi

In Haitian Voodou, Baron Samedi is the Loa of the Dead.  He is usually depicted with a white skeletal face and dressed in a top hat and tuxedo.  As well as being the master of death, he is also a giver of life.  If he sees fit, he can cure a human of any disease, illness, or wound.  He spends most of his time in the invisible realm of the spirits and is known for his outrageous behavior (he loves to drink, smoke, womanize, swear, and often regales the other spirits with dirty jokes).

The following photos illustrate “a day in the life of Death” and were part of a series for the annual Dia de Los Muertos exhibit at the Bath House Cultural Center in Dallas, Texas.

Photography by Lori Bandi