Haiti

Motto:

L'union fait la force (French -"Unity is strength")

Language:

French

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Brief history:

Capital:

Port-au-Prince

Haiti is located in between Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic and is west of the Dominican Republic. It was discovered in 1492 by Columbus who called it Hispanola, or Little Spain. In 1697 Spain, ceded part of land to the French and this part was called it Haiti - â€œLand of Mountains.â€ In 1804 following a slave revolt, Haiti became the first black led republic. Since its independence, Haiti has experienced political turmoil and upheaval especially under the brutal dictatorships of Voodoo physician Francois "Papa Doc" and his son Jean-Claude, or "Baby Doc" who both declared themselves â€˜president-for-life.â€ Haiti aimed to improve its government with its first elected president in 1990, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former priest. In 1991, however, Aristide lost power in a violent military coup. Aristide was later re-elected in 2000 but uprisings against his leadership forced him into exile in 2004. Today Haiti is ruled by President Rene Preval, who is said to be a champion of the people.

Below is Haitian music, film, food and customs recommended by Unieros friend Kerl

Books:

Edwidge Danticat writer. In 2009, she was awarded a MacArthur Foundation Genius Award $500.000 in recognition of her talent and work.

Recommended book: "Breath, Eyes, Memory"

World Music:

The music of Haiti is easily distinguished from other styles. It includes kompa and kadans. The Kompa influence zouk in the early sixties. Soucous is always greatly influence by Kompas with the great immigration of Haitian to the Congo in the 1960s.

Some Haitian popular musicians such as T-Vice and Carimi perform regularly in the United States and Quebec. The most successful and well known Haitian artist of this epoc is Wyclef Jean, who is internationally recognized for putting Haiti on the map where music is concerned.

In contrast to the desperate poverty that often shown of Haiti. This short video captures moments of fun as Haitians dance and play music in the street.

Food:

The cuisine of Haiti is influenced in a large part by French cuisine as well as some native staples such as cassava (kasav), yam, and maize (mayi). Haitian food, though unique in its own right, shares much in common with the rest of Latin America. Some popular dishes are:

Diri ak Pwa: Rice and Beans
Griyo: Fried Pork
Kabrit: Goat
Poule Sos: Chicken in sauce
Mayi moule: Cornmeal
Legim: Vegetables (okra, eggplant, tomatoes...)
Pwason: Fish
Diri ak Let: A desert composed of sweetened milk and rice
Banann Fri/Peze: (Fried Plantains, also popular in the Dominican Republic)

Influential People:

There are many Haitians that have made themselves known in their own country and abroad. The country in which these people made their impact.

Nicolas Geffrard

- Nicolas Geffard from Haitian songwriter: Composed Haitian national anthem "La Dessalinienne" 1904 (1871-1930)

Wyclef Jean: Haitian rapper and humanitarian

Garcelle Beauvais Nilon: Haitian American model and actress

Raoul Peck, film director: Lumumba(2000) A film that tells the true story of the rise to power and brutal assassination of the formerly vilified and later redeemed leader of the independent Congo, Patrice Lumumba. "Sometimes in April" (2005) - a documentary about the Rwanda 1994 genocide