Clairvius Narcisse

In today’s popular culture, a zombie is a person affected by a biological warfare.  But the original description of a zombie is a re-animated human that was placed into a hex in order to be a slave.  In Haiti, a certain man has said to be made into a real zombie with the use of some drugs.  The case of Clairvius Narcisse drew the attention of some scientific investigators during that time.

Based on the story, Clairvius Narcisse was poisoned by his brother.  During that time their relationship as brothers is not going too well because of their fight on a piece of land.  After he died and was laid to rest on the 2^nd of May 1962, his body was exhumed and was given an ointment made from datura which is believed to cause a memory loss.  With no memory of his past, he was ordered by his master to work in a sugar plantation.  After his master died, the effects of the said drugs wear off and he finally regains his sanity.  He decided to return to his family only to find out that his brother is dead,

The Story of Narcisse was used in the book “The Serpent and the Rainbow” written by Wade Davis.  The following excerpt can be found in the work of Wade Davis “PASSAGE OF DARKNESS:

"Evidence suggests that zombification is a form of social sanction imposed by recognized corporate bodies--the poorly known and clandestine secret Bizango societies--as one means of maintaining order and control in local communities." (p. 3.)The essence of Davis' claim is this:

• there are zombies

• however, there are actually very very few of them

• they are created in part by a poisoned powder

• however, they are created in part by the effects of the culture

• zombies are created when a person first falls into a death-like trance which is both drug and culturally induced

• then is revived and kept under the control of the houngan by the use of other drugs

• zombies are created by Voodoo priests who are members of the Bizango secret societies

• Bizango societies constitute a totally secret and hidden other government beneath the surface of Haitian society

• zombification is not random nor for profit or personal vendetta

• zombification is the ultimate punishment to someone who has seriously violated the law of the Bizango society