About Haiti page

AYITI: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

Facts

  • The world’s first black-led republic and the first Caribbean state to achieve independence.  The Republic of Haiti won their independence on January 1st 1804 from France.
  • President: Jovenel Moise
  • Full name: Republic of Haiti
  • Population: 12.4 million (via UN, 2006)
  • Capital: Port-au-Prince
  • Area: 27,750 sq km (10,714 sq miles)
  • Major languages: Creole, French
  • Major religion: Christianity
  • Monetary unit: 1 gourde = 100 centimes
  • Main exports: Light manufacture, coffee, oils, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn.
  • International dialing code: +509

Culture

The Haitian culture is very rich and creative culture.  Haitian Culture has a mixture of many different cultures such African, and French.  The main language spoken throughout the country is Creole.  You will find that they speak Creole all over the country.  You will be able to read and hear the Creole language being used in literature, music, and in dance performances. The secondary language spoken in Haiti is French.  Haitian works of art are becoming very popular now.  They are steadily increasing and gaining worldwide recognition.

Another thing that really defines the Haitian Culture is its cuisine.  Haitian food is a real treat.  They are a variety of different meals that can appeal to anyone’s appetite that you desire. Haitian food has a very distinct blend of spices and herbs that help to bring out that great taste.  Some of the more popular Haitian foods are Haitian patties which is dough stuffed with season ground beef or you can have it with fish.  These patties are baked in the oven and are extremely delicious packed with great flavor.  Another popular dish is Mushroom rice, basically mushroom rice is rice with dried black mushroom.

Music

Haiti has some of the best music in the world.  Two of the many genres of Haitian music are Kompa, and Zouk.  Haiti has a lot of famous artist such as Tabou Combo, T-Vice, Carmi, Sweet Mickey, Zin, and much more.  Kompa music is more of a fast pace music because is has a very quick rhythmic beat.  From the drums, and piano, all the way to the different horns such as the sax, and trumpets, etc gives kompa that exciting vibrant sound.  Music is a very important aspect in Haiti.  They have an annual carnival in Haiti with many of the famous artist performing and the people of Haiti come out and dance and enjoy the performances.  Sample music

Arts

Haitian art is very appreciated around the world and considered the best around the Caribbean.  They are one of a kind pieces created by the Haitian people.  Most of the artist that are painters have not been school or educated in the art of painting.  They are just born with raw artistic talent.  Most of their paintings are like a story map of what’s going on in the country, and visuals of things that they can see in their daily lives.  Haitian art became very popular because of the style of painting.  When you look at Haitian art you can see an array of vivid colors that just jump of the page.   Unlike tradition paintings at the time, Haitian artist were able to express their feelings through this form of art that made them very popular.  Another form of art that is extremely valued is wood carvings.  They are very articulate and beautiful sculptures and also very expensive.  In Haiti you can find a lot of young artist selling their paintings in the streets and markets.

Haitian Currency

Haitian Coins – 1895

One gourde (Papa
Doc)

At the end of the Baby Doc Duvalier regime the one and two gourde note were over printed with a red circle and slash across it with the date of the end of the Duvalier regime—February 7, 1986—printed below in red.

The overprint was placed over the image of Baby Doc on the 5 gourde note and his father the infamous Papa Doc, François Duvalier.

Subsequent notes were replaced with images of figures from the history of the Haitian Republic.

Haitian National Anthem

The National Anthem of Haiti: La Dessalinienne

(The Dessalines Song) is the national anthem of Haiti, honoring Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Written by Justin Lhérisson and composed by Nicolas Geffrard and adopted in 1904.

In French

Pour le Pays,
Pour la Patrie,
Marchons unis,
Marchons unis.
Dans nos rangs point de traîtres!
Du sol soyons seuls maîtres.
Marchons unis,
Marchons unis
Pour le Pays,
Pour la patrie,
Marchons, marchons, marchons unis,
Pour le Pays,
Pour la Patrie.

Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
Béchons joyeux, béchons joyeux
Quand le champ fructifie
L’âme se fortifie
Béchons joyeux, béchons joyeux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
Béchons, béchons, béchons joyeux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie

Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères
Formons des Fils, formons des Fils
Libres, forts et prospères
Toujours nous serons frères
Formons des Fils, formons des Fils
Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères
Formons, formons, formons des Fils
Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères

Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux!
Sous ta garde infinie
Prends nos droits, notre vie
O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux!
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
O Dieu, O Dieu, O Dieu des Preux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie

Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie
Mourir est beau, mourir est beau!
Notre passé nous crie:
Ayez l’âme aguerrie!
Mourir est beau, mourir est beau
Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie
Mourir, mourir, mourir est beau
Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie

English Translation

For our country,
For our forefathers,
United let us march.
United let us march.
Let there be no traitors in our ranks!
Let us be masters of our soil.
United let us march
United let us march.
For our country,
For our forefathers.
March, march, United let us march.
For our country,
For our forefathers.

For our forebears,
For our country
Let us toil joyfully.
May the fields be fertile
And our souls take courage.
Let us toil joyfully
For our forebears,
For our country.

For our country
And for our forefathers,
Let us train our sons.
Free, strong, and prosperous,
We shall always be as brothers.
Let us train our sons
For our country
And for our forefathers.

For our forebears,
For our country,
Oh God of the valiant!
Take our rights and our life
Under your infinite protection,
Oh God of the valiant!
For our forebears,
For our country.

For the flag,
For our country
To die is a fine thing!
Our past cries out to us:
Have a disciplined soul!
To die is a fine thing,
For the flag,
For our country.