Malvina Latour facts for kids
Malvina Latour was an important Voodoo leader in New Orleans around the late 1800s. She was a student of the famous Voodoo queen, Marie Laveau. Malvina Latour became well-known after Marie Laveau passed away.
About Malvina Latour
In 1884, people who saw Malvina Latour said she looked about 48 years old. She was born into slavery and worked in a home until she became free. This freedom was called Emancipation. It is hard to find official records about Malvina Latour in old New Orleans city books or census reports.
Her Role in Voodoo
Malvina Latour was a close student of Marie Laveau, who was a very powerful Voodoo leader. After Marie Laveau died in 1881, many people wondered who would take her place. Malvina Latour was one of the women believed to be her successor. This means she was thought to be the next leader.
A writer named Herbert Asbury wrote a book in 1936 called The French Quarter. In his book, he said Malvina Latour was about 30 years old when she became the head of Voodoo in New Orleans. He also wrote that she stopped leading around 1890.
St. John's Eve Ceremony
One important event Malvina Latour led was the St. John's Eve ritual in 1884. Many people from the community came together for this special night. They gathered in a big crowd with hundreds of small fires glowing. People brought musical instruments, coffee, and a special dish called gumbo to share.
Malvina Latour was in charge of the ceremony. Men and women danced lively dances, including the Bamboula. Others played music on drums, guitars, banjos, and fiddles. A writer named George Washington Cable even described Malvina Latour's appearance in a magazine article in 1886.
Historical Confusion
Sometimes, Malvina Latour's story got mixed up with other people's stories. Researchers have found that her identity might have been confused with an earlier Voodoo priestess named Madame Lott. It seems that some writers, like Herbert Asbury, might have combined their stories. Also, some people have confused Malvina Latour with one of Marie Laveau's daughters.
