Skip to content
Skip to main content

Can you resist zombification?

Updated Wednesday, 18 October 2023
From The Walking Dead to Call Of Duty WWII, zombies are everywhere. Join us on an exploration of the undead amongst us...

Several gingerbread men decorated as zombies Night of the living bread

Zombies appear to be competing with vampires for popularity in horror films, TV series and computer games. Possibly, children disguised as zombies will knock on your door this Halloween. Both vampires and zombies are portrayed as mysterious members of a proliferating gang of predators against humanity. This may be true to legends about vampires but traditional zombies are quite different.

Zombie traditions originated in Haiti during the centuries of slavery. They are part of Vodou, a religion that fused elements of different African traditions with ideas and practices that suited the conditions of slavery. Vodou played a significant role in the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) against French rule. The poverty that continues to haunt Haiti encourages the continuing popularity of Vodou and other religions that mix comfort with resistance and encouragement that things can be made better.

While some Vodou deities offered distraction from harsh reality, others encouraged slave revolts and liberation processes. They are a fascinating and boisterous crowd with varied preferences and predilections. Some remain more accessible than others. Some only talk through initiated and entranced priestesses or priests. Haitian musical and artistic cultures are heavily influenced by Vodou. Nonetheless, perhaps because of its support for revolution, Vodou has been demonised and oppressed. It is hardly surprising, then, that zombies have been misrepresented. Indeed, there is something sadly fitting about this. Haitians do not fear a zombie apocalypse because zombies are utterly controlled by those who have enslaved them. However, Haitians do fear becoming zombies just as their ancestors feared enslavement.

There are different theories about the nature of zombies. Most commonly it is thought that they are dead people whose corpses have been dug up, magically re-animated and forced to labour for merciless owners. Others claim that a potent brew causes victims to appear to die so that, after their untimely burial, they can be restored to a semblance of life and put to work. In either case, zombies are oppressed, their humanity is supressed and all their hopes and wishes are repressed. Some traditions say that if zombies eat a single grain of salt they will instantly understand their situation and become eager for revenge against their owners before returning to their graves. In short, zombies are so far gone that they cannot even desire liberation, but the only danger they pose is to their oppressors.

As at least some of those horror films show (even if they diverge from Vodou) we can learn something from zombie traditions. We can seek to liberate those who are enslaved today. We can resist zombification by challenging all that would make us passive, uncaring, disconnected, hopeless beings who trudge through mere existence obeying every whim of those who claim mastery. And we can seek, taste and share the salt of a more vibrant cultural and thoughtful life!

Finally, here’s a thought for Halloween: perhaps thinking about zombies might also remind us that this is (among other things) traditionally a festival for honouring those who have died. This is a good time to say thanks to past generations who have given us the opportunity to live now.

 

Become an OU student

Author

Ratings & Comments

Share this free course

Copyright information

Skip Rate and Review

For further information, take a look at our frequently asked questions which may give you the support you need.

Have a question?