Like many Haitian Vodou songs, the meaning of this song is best unveiled by examining the relevant historical background. Gawou was the title of the commander of the army in Dahomey, Africa. As such, the word Gawou became associated with the elephant. For this reason, in Haiti Agawou is commonly described as Agawou Lefan. In Africa, the elephant is the biggest animal on land and outside of humans, it has no predators. It is the king of the animal kingdom. It does what it wants whenever it pleases. This is why there is another song proclaiming that Agawou Lefan mache kote vle, li manje sa li vle, li domi kote l vle. The word lefan is the result of dropping the e that precedes the word elefan. In Creole, it is permissible not to pronounce a vowel at the beginning of a word. It is for this reason that an American (Ameriken) may be called a Meriken.
In the song above, the term towo is used as a substitute for lefan (elephant) because there are no elephants in Haiti. The largest and most powerful land animal in Haiti is the bull and this is why the song refers to Agawou in local terms as a towo.
The song appears to be about Toussaint Louverture and the great relationship he had with his father Gawou Ginou who raised him on the Breda plantation in northern Haiti. From there, Toussaint Louverture rose to prominence to become the leader of the free world. Under Toussaint Louverture's leadership, all the inhabitants of the island of Haiti were free. Toussaint Louverture, along with the Haitian people, achieved this at a time when no other large territory was slave free. How Toussaint Louverture developed his military and diplomatic skills while being raised within the confines of plantation life has been perplexing to many historians who have not considered the role of his father, Agawou, as his mentor.
This song appears to proclaim that when Toussaint Louverture was in conference with his father Agawou, the two were inseparable- Papa m rele m pa m. Agawou Ginou is commonly called Gawou Ginou because in the 1700's, Agawou or Gawou was the title of the commander of the Dahomean army. Toussaint Louverture's father was a member of the royal family of Dahomey and he was also commander of the army, earning him the title Gawou (Agawou). The diplomatic ties that he had in that position appeared to have provided him with some advantages in Haiti. He was allowed to live on the Breda plantation with his family and was never separated from them as was commonly done to other Africans. This arrangement allowed Gawou Ginou to be Toussaint's father and mentor in world affairs and in military matters. It is likely Gawou Ginou's education in Africa that expanded Toussaint Louverture's vision beyond the borders of the Breda plantation.
This song honoring Gawou Ginou as a father figure is so compelling that is has been adopted for use in political rallies as well as in Christian worship ceremonies. In rallies, demonstrators have substituted Aristide for Agawou. In Christian church services, congregants have replaced Agawou with Letenèl.
We hope for this father's day, every child may have a mentor like Agawou Ginou who is able to provide undivided attention and guidance.
Reference for Gawou Ginou as the Father of Toussaint Louverture
Toussaint L'Ouverture: A Biography and Autobiography. Rev. John R. Beard, D.D.
372 p., 2 ill. Boston: JAMES REDPATH, PUBLISHER, 221 WASHINGTON STREET. 1863.
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