In and amongst the popular bars and clubs of Seel Street, there lies an enchanting Liverpool nightlife venue wrapped in magic and mystery.
At the stroke of midnight every Saturday, partygoers prepare to be bewitched by the powers of Voodoo at Alma de Cuba.
Voodoo at Alma de Cuba
As darkness descends upon the city and the Liverpool nightlife begins to really heat up, enter Alma de Cuba and wait for the show to begin.
Starting at the stroke of midnight, Alma de Cuba set the scene to summon the spirits of Voodoo with a shower of blackened petals that fall from the heavens, carpeting the floors of the ancient church.
As the last petals are falling the Dr of Darkness takes to the stage and prepares his audience for what is to come.
Moments later the club will be plunged into darkness and the Dr?s minions will appear on the centre altar and begin a mesmerizing performance to entrance and amaze their audience.
Conjurers who can control the elements will astound you with their gifts as they manipulate fire and contort their bodies to entertain the masses.
When you think the show is over, look out as the Voodoo performers will remain in and amongst the crowds, appearing one moment then gone the next, staying until the sunrise the following morning.
Let the spirit of Voodoo possess you at Alma de Cuba with a one of a kind Liverpool nightlife experience this and every Saturday night.
Just what is Voodoo?
Today people associate Voodoo with dark magic, Voodoo dolls and zombies and, as with all secretive religions, Voodoo has gotten a bad rep.
The practice of Voodoo began in Africa and travelled across to the US with the first African slaves to Haiti and New Orleans. Less than eight days after arriving on American soil the ?masters? of the slaves were meant to abolish any African religion by forcing Christianity upon them.
What happened was a blending of religions, and the African slaves held onto their Voodoo religion by worshiping their own gods in the images of?Catholic saints. From this a fear of the religion was born. As well as worshiping more than one deity, performing animal sacrifices and speaking in foreign tongue, African people had a wide knowledge of natural medicines and knowing which could heal and which could cause hallucinations, sickness or death.
In Haiti, the Voodoo religion proved harder to suppress than in New Orleans and eventually there was a revolt of the slaves, spurred on by the strength of their religious Voodoo beliefs.
The revolt eventually ended with the massacre of all black slaves in Haiti, many were executed yet few who survived found their way to New Orleans where the practice of Voodoo still existed but less publicly.
That was until Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen, was established.
Marie Laveau, The Voodoo Queen
Known widely as the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau was a religious icon among Voodoo practitioners and Louisiana high society.
Her supposed mystical powers and psychic abilities gave her a reputation among the people of New Orleans as being a healer and someone to turn to for magical favours.
She was also seen as someone to fear to those who did not understand the Voodoo religion. A fear she utilised to become one of the most influential black women of the 19th century.
Marie was born free in America and worked as a hairdresser among the aristocracy of New Orleans, because of her occupation and her friendliness with the slaves who worked in the homes of the wealthy, Marie garnered lots of information through gossip.
She used this knowledge to convince people she was psychic and had mystical powers that were given to her by Voodoo gods.
Combine all this with her alchemic knowledge and her pet snake Zombi and its easy to see why a free born black woman in the 19th century might command such fear and respect from those she encountered.
Today there are still shrines that worship the Queen of Voodoo and people still leave offerings at her tomb to gain protection from her spirit. Traditionally, one asks Marie Laveau for a favour by knocking three times on the walls of her crypt before asking your favour.
If your favour or wish is granted legend has it you should mark Marie’s tomb with three X’s and leave a gift in payment.?It is said that after her death Marie Laveau has been seen wandering the cemetery and streets of New Orleans muttering Voodoo curses on non-believers, those who haven’t paid for her magical favour and wrong doers.
Voodoo at Alma de Cuba will certainly put a spell on your Liverpool nightlife experience, ensuring you and all your friends have an amazing night out in one of the city?s most enchanting venues.
