Carl Brouard (1902-1965) was an influential figure in Haitian literature despite having published just one book in his lifetime, Écrit sur du ruban rose. Brouard practiced Vodou and belonged to Les Griots, a group whose goal was to reclaim the value of Haitian folklore.
from the article:
The Anguished Tam-Tam
It is ridiculous to play the flute In a country where the national Instrument is the powerful assôtor*
*“The assôtor […] is the largest drum in Haiti. Its low, heavy sound can travel for several kilometers in the mountains. It is a traditional instrument in Vodou ceremonies. During the Haitian Revolution, when French troops sought to regain control of newly liberated regions, Toussaint Louverture reportedly made use of the assôtor to send coded messages between the mountains and valleys.” (Poetry of Haitian Independence, edited by Doris Y. Kadish and Deborah Jenson, p. 278.)