History Main / BorrowinSamedi

A character uses Baron Samedi (also occasionally spelled Bawon Samdi), a loa (i.e. deity/spirit) of death, healing, and resurrection from Haitian UsefulNotes/{{Voudoun}} folklore, as a design template.

Visually, this means they're probably a ScaryBlackMan wearing [[HatOfAuthority top hat]], [[SharpDressedMan tails]], glasses with one missing lens, having the {{Color Motif}}s of black, white, and purple, and having a somewhat skeletal face, possibly by use of VillainousCheekbones, if not an actual SkullForAHead. Personality-wise, they're probably sly, ghoulish, sinister, and maybe a bit of a hedonist -- in Voudoun, the Baron is a festive sort who loves drinking rum, smoking cigars, partying, swearing, and sex. Where they fall on the morality axis is a little less consistent: as far as the original is concerned, DarkIsNotEvil, but characters who fit the archetype may be villainous or diabolical, since EveryoneHatesHades.

A character uses Baron Samedi, a deity/spirit from Haitian UsefulNotes/{{Voudoun}} folklore, as a design template.

Visually, this means they're probably a ScaryBlackMan wearing [[HatOfAuthority top hat]] and [[SharpDressedMan tails]] (black is best and darker colors in general are preferable) and having a somewhat skeletal face, possibly by use of VillainousCheekbones, if not an actual SkullForAHead. Personality-wise, they're probably sly and somewhat sinister, and may be a bit of a hedonist (in Haitian lore, the Baron is a festive sort who loves drinking rum and partying). Where they fall on the morality axis is a little less consistent: as far as the original is concerned, DarkIsNotEvil, but characters who fit the archetype may be villainous or diabolical, since EveryoneHatesHades.

* ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'': Alastor the Radio Demon is an interesting example, as he has been confirmed to be inspired by [[WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog Dr. Facilier]], being a SharpDressedMan of Cajun descent from TheBigEasy, and Facilier was inspired by Samedi, meaning that in a roundabout way Alastor resembles Samedi with a generous dose of {{Wendigo}} and cannibal motifs attached.

* Another unconventional example in ''Literature/AmericanGods'' by Neil Gaiman. The Baron himself shows up, but manifested in a highly atypical fashion: as a teenage goth girl from Chattanooga (she had her own top hat).

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* An unorthodox example the Skin-taker from the Creepypasta ''Literature/CandleCove'', who is a villainous glass-eyed skeleton who wears a top hat and cloak made of [[GenuineHumanHide the skin of children]].
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* In ''WesternAnimation/RoswellConspiraciesAliensMythsAndLegends'', the Vodun are a race of alien slugs that are {{PuppeteerParasite}}s who can only control corpses. Their leader is Baron Samedi, who dresses an acts like the figure from folklore.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has a ShowWithinAShow example seen in the episode "Bart the Bad Guy" with Black Voodoo, the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Marble Cinematic Universe]]'s equivalent of Film/BlackPanther. He's got the suit and bone-decorated top hat of Baron Samedi worn over the Vibranium body suit of Black Panther, and even uses a voodoo doll in a fight with Chinnos.

* ''VideoGame/MadWorld'' has the Black Baron ([[CatchPhrase "Stop staring"]]), who gives the shout out to Baron Semedi a pimp twist; rather than a top hat he has a wide-brimmed hat and instead of wearing black, he's wearing garish leopard print. He is, however, superhumanly powerful and aside from his name has an interesting connection to death, as [[TheyKilledKennyAgain he's killed to demonstrate each level's gimmicks]] and comes back with no explanation. The semi-sequel ''VideoGame/AnarchyReigns'' has the Blacker Baron, who may or may not be the same guy.

* ''VideoGame/BountyOfOne'' has [[BigBad The Undertaker]]. [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bounty_of_one_undertaker.png He wears a]] black top hat, a huge black coat, has a literal SkullForAHead due to being an undead skeleton, and is a necromancer with SoulPower.

* Tensay the shaman from ''VideoGame/FarCryPrimal'' looks vaguely like the Baron despite predating Voudoun as a religion. Apart from being a ScaryBlackMan, Tensay is thin and wears white TribalFacePaint that makes him appear skeletal. He carries a SimpleStaff in place of a ClassyCane, wears a [[NemeanSkinning wolfskin headdress]] instead of a top hat, and has pretty crass manners, urinating on a mask before letting Takkar put it on his face, and urinating on a captive Izila who he doesn't like. He's also [[NightmareFetishist eager to serve Takkar his blood potions]] and is something of TheHedonist, as whenever he's not doing creepy things, he's doing a dance with his staff, or encouraging other Wenja to "dance with spirits", as he does in celebration [[spoiler:of Takkar killing Batari]].

* The Sons of Samedi from ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'' are a street gang whose [[GangOfHats hat]] is HollywoodVoodoo. TheLeader of the gang, an enigmatic man known only as The General, doesn't fit this trope very well aside from being a ScaryBlackMan and a bit of a hedonist. That said, his [[TheDragon second-in-command]], [[IronicName Mr. Sunshine]] definitely counts as he's a "psychotic witch doctor" (to borrow a phrase from rival gang leader Maero) who practices voodoo [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane that may or may not give him magic powers]] and certainly makes him [[MadeOfIron hard to kill]]. He's also [[AxCrazy enthusiastically sadistic and immoral]]. In terms of aesthetics, he's definitely [[LeanAndMean emaciated]] with a long, bony face, he has a skull on top of his SimpleStaff, and he wears an understated, dark blazer and slacks as an allusion to the usual tailcoat. When the gang are introduced at the beginning of the game, Shaundi even explains who Baron Samedi is as a figure of Vodoun myth.

* Sam from ''VideoGame/TwistedWonderland'' arguably also falls here, due to his name and being twisted from {{WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog Dr. Facilier}}.

* Limbo from ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' is a dapper warframe, clad in a top hat and tailcoat, whose schtick is [[DimensionalTraveler sending himself, his allies and his enemies in and out of the Rift]].
* The ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' troll loa Bwonsamdi hits many of the right notes. He is the god of death for a race heavily associated with voodoo, has a skull face, is frequently sinister even when he's ostensibly on your side, and always trying to make deals which he'll usually adhere to the letter of, if not the spirit. Throughout the Horde storyline of ''Battle for Azeroth'', Bwonsamdi is making deals and trying to find ways to exploit the situation to his advantage, culminating in [[spoiler:becoming the loa to which the Zandalari king Rastakhan swears fealty.]] He's surprisingly chill--often [[HaveANiceDeath mocking the players when they die]] and even mentions [[DarkIsNotEvil that despite being the loa of death, he is all for balance]] and [[EvenEvilHasStandards is generally against undead]]. Above all, he has the assurance of one who knows that all in time will answer to him.

* Brook in ''Manga/OnePiece'' doesn't just look skeletal, he is in fact a walking skeleton and dresses in a nice suit and top hat as a matter of course. About the only switch-up is the huge afro. His love of music, upbeat and fun-loving personality, and horrible manners might be further references to Samedi. Even after the time skip, his style doesn't change much, unlike most of the Straw Hat crew.

* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'' has the unique helmet "[[https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/The_Baron The Baron]]", which looks like a skull mask, a top hat, and a black hood adorned with bones, and empowers the player's [[NightOfTheLivingMooks zombie minions]].

* In the "Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After" segment of ''Film/CloudAtlas'', the devilish spirit named Old Georgie (Creator/HugoWeaving) tempts Zachry in various ways and sports ruined black clothes with a top hat, slightly invoking the trope.

* Another unconventional example in ''Literature/AmericanGods'' by Neil Gaiman. The Baron himself shows up, but manifested in a highly atypical fashion: as a teenage goth girl from Chattanooga (she had her own top hat).

* In the Discworld novel ''Literature/WitchesAbroad,'' the former ruler of Genua (a FantasyCounterpartCulture to New Orleans) is Baron Saturday, a literal translation of "Samedi" into English. He is raised as a zombie in the traditional evening dress by his ex-lover, a voodoo lady, and helps to depose the evil witch who usurped him.

* ''Series/TheMightyBoosh'' has the Spirit of Jazz, who wears a white suit and top hat, skeletal makeup and dreadlocks. Howard [[DealWithTheDevil sells his soul]] to him in exchange for jazz music skills.

* The ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' Freedom City setting has Baron Samedi show up as an [[EverybodyHatesHades evil god]] who's goal is to kill all humans and turn them into zombies.

* Sam B from ''VideoGame/DeadIsland'' is this InUniverse. He's a rapper whose scene persona wears a black longcoat and a black top hat, and his two songs ("Who Do You Voodoo, Bitch?" in the opening cutscene of the first game, and "No Room in Hell", a live-action music video serving as promotional material for the ''VideoGame/DeadIslandRiptide'' sequel) are voodoo-themed; there's also the "Sam B"[=/=]"Samedi" pun. In proper game, he's merely a CelebritySurvivor with purely mundane ability. He's also a player character and a good guy (though not a nice person).
* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'' has the unique helmet "[[https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/The_Baron The Baron]]", which looks like a skull mask, a top hat, and a black hood adorned with bones, and empowers the player's [[NightOfTheLivingMooks zombie minions]].
* Tensay the shaman from ''VideoGame/FarCryPrimal'' looks vaguely like the Baron despite predating Voudoun as a religion. Apart from being a ScaryBlackMan, Tensay is thin and wears white TribalFacePaint that makes him appear skeletal. He carries a SimpleStaff in place of a ClassyCane, wears a [[NemeanSkinning wolfskin headdress]] instead of a top hat, and has pretty crass manners, urinating on a mask before letting Takkar put it on his face, and urinating on a captive Izila who he doesn't like. He's also [[NightmareFetishist eager to serve Takkar his blood potions]] and is something of TheHedonist, as whenever he's not doing creepy things, he's doing a dance with his staff, or encouraging other Wenja to "dance with spirits", as he does in celebration [[spoiler:of Takkar killing Batari]].
* Josey from ''VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw'' is the Master of Funk and one of the five Dark Purveyors, five powerful zombies summoned by Swan from the Rotten World who unleash a ZombieApocalypse on the world. Josey is the only Black member, with skull make-up and a top-hat meant to evoke Baron Samedi's iconography.
* An outfit in ''Videogame/LoveNikkiDressUpQueen'' called Demon's Game is likely a reference. The clothes are almost monochrome, contrasting against bone-white skin and a face like a desiccated corpse, with a prominent top hat, and the figure carries both a creepy doll and an oversized scythe (bringing in European iconography of death). Ghosts swirl around it, and the item descriptions all refer to lost souls, lamentations, the brevity of life and the inevitability of death.

* ''VideoGame/MutantFootballLeague'' features the Brawltimore Razors as a team (a parody of the Baltimore Ravens NFL franchise.) Their team logo is a skull and crossbones, where the crossbones are knives, and the skull is wearing a styling red and purple tophat and has a streak of blood down one of its eyes.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has a ShowWithinAShow example seen in the episode "Bart the Bad Guy" with Black Voodoo, the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Marble Cinematic Universe]]'s equivalent of Film/BlackPanther. He's got the suit and bone-decorated top hat of Baron Samedi worn over the Vibranium body suit of Black Panther, and even uses a voodoo doll in a fight with Chinnos.

[[caption-width-right:300:They're friends with the other side.[[note]]Clockwise from top left: [[Film/LiveAndLetDie Baron Samedi]], [[WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog Dr. Facilier]], [[Manga/OnePiece Brook]], and [[VideoGame/{{Smite}} Baron Samedi (the actual deity, in this case)]].[[/note]]]]

Visually, this means they're probably a ScaryBlackMan wearing [[HatOfAuthority top hat]] and [[SharpDressedMan tails]] (black is best and darker colors in general are preferable) and having a somewhat skeletal face, possibly by use of VillainousCheekbones, if not an actual SkullForAHead. Personality-wise, they're probably sly and somewhat sinister, and may be a bit of a hedonist (in Haitian lore, the Baron is a festive sort who loves drinking rum and partying). Where they fall on the morality axis is a little less consistent, but as far as the original is concerned, DarkIsNotEvil. Nevertheless, characters who fit this archetype are likely villainous or diabolical, because EveryoneHatesHades.

Visually, this means they're probably a ScaryBlackMan wearing [[HatOfAuthority top hat]] and [[SharpDressedMan tails]] (black is best and darker colors in general are preferable) and having a somewhat skeletal face, possibly by use of VillainousCheekbones, if not an actual SkullForAHead. Personality-wise, they're probably sly and somewhat sinister, and may be a bit of a hedonist (in Haitian lore, the Baron is a festive sort who loves drinking rum and partying). Where they fall on the morality axis is a little less consistent, but as far as the original is concerned, DarkIsNotEvil.

Characters who fit this archetype will often practice (or be worshipped by practitioners of) HollywoodVoodoo; this makes a small degree of sense, since possession by spirits is a big part of Vodoun doctrine, and someone hoping to be "ridden" by the Baron might dress like him to try and associate with him.