Pa Wowo

38 Pa Wowo

Pa Wowo has a pipe in his mouth – in the past all the peasants smoked pipes. He wears a skirt of leaves. The skirt is a symbol, the skirt means everything – Pa Wowo has no family, he has nothing, no one to help him, not even his own clothes to wear. So he represents someone who has nothing, no one, nowhere to stay. No money. People understand my message, which is that if you have something, you must help those who have nothing. Pa Wowo has his own scenes, just like in the theatre. So many ancient madigra have been lost. I took this one over when the person who used to do it died. That was fifteen years ago. I’m not sure it will continue after I’m gone, but while I’m able I’ll always fight to do Pa Wowo, to make sure that Carnival has a festive ambiance, a good power, to make sure that Jacmel shows its good face to the world. Edmond Paul (2009)