How important is tourism in Haiti?

Nanm Vodoua brings forth the fire of Ogou Feray at the French Institute

One year after the release of their album “TRAVÈSE”, the group Nanm Vodou continues to trace its musical path with passion and authenticity. With the valuable support of the French Institute in Haiti, Nanm Vodou presented the concert “Yon lane pou Travèse” on Thursday July 18, 2024, to mark the start of the summer festivities. Fans of Haitian music and culture experienced a captivating evening, where the rhythms of drums and sacred chants resonated with spiritual intensity.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines, leader of the Haitian Revolution

In the annals of the history of Haiti, an island located in the Caribbean at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico and shared with the Dominican Republic, Jean-Jacques Dessalines emerges like a phoenix from the ashes of oppression. Born a slave on September 20, 1758 in the home of Henri Duclos, in Cormier (Grande-Rivière-du-Nord), in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, Dessalines was a Creole of African (Afro-Caribbean) origin. Freed during the 1794 abolition achieved through slave revolts, actually served as an officer in the French army during the French Revolution. At that time, the ideas of freedom and equality were at the heart of the concerns of the inhabitants of the colonies. Dessalines actively participated in the fighting against the Spanish and British forces, alongside the French, in Santo Domingo. Having risen to the rank of Lieutenant General, Jean-Jacques Dessalines turned against the French during the Leclerc expedition, sent to Saint-Domingue by Bonaparte to reestablish colonial authority and slavery during the Haitian Revolution. After the capture and deportation of Toussaint Louverture to France on June 7, 1802, Dessalines assumed a leading role in continuing the struggle for independence. He led numerous battles, including the battle of Crête-à-Pierrot in March 1802, where he galvanized his soldiers with his famous declaration: “Let those who want to remain slaves of the French leave the fort, let those, on the contrary, who want to die as free men, line up around me.” On January 1, 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines achieved the long-awaited goal of independence by proclaiming Haïti as a sovereign nation, becoming the second country in the Americas to gain independence from a colonial power. He became the first leader of the newly formed nation and was named Emperor under the name James I. However, his imperial reign was marked by authoritarian and brutal policies, including the massacre of many white settlers and the redistribution of land to peasants that was in the hands of the generals of the independence army. In addition, he organized the hunt for delinquents in the city while implementing rigorous agrarian policies, considering that they represented a threat to the stability of the nation, these controversial actions caused divisions within Haitian society. Dessalines was assassinated on October 17, 1806 following a plot organized by some of his generals in the Haitian army. His death marked the end of his brief but influential period in power. Despite the controversies surrounding his methods, he is recognized as the main architect of Haiti’s independence and his name was honored in 1903 by being attributed to the Haitian national anthem, La Dessalinienne, composed by Justin Lhérisson.Finally, the great visionary man Jean Jacques Dessalines remains an emblematic figure in the history of Haiti, recognized for his role in the fight for independence and the end of slavery in the region.

Christmas in Haiti, A Time of Sharing and Generosity

Christmas in Haïti is much more than just a Christian holiday: it is an opportunity to celebrate solidarity, generosity, and unity within families and communities. Haitians embrace this time as a time to gather, share, and reflect on the essential values ​​of humanity. This article explores how Christmas in Haïti embodies these values ​​of sharing and generosity through unique traditions, acts of solidarity, and festive meals.

Salt Production in Haiti: A Traditional Know-How at the Heart of the Local Economy

Salt production in Haïti is an ancestral know-how that plays an essential role in the economy of coastal areas. The regions most recognized for salt production are the Salines de Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite, the coasts of Île de la Gonâve, the Salines de Port-au-Prince, as well as parts of the North and Southeast. This process, which depends on the country’s natural geography and maritime resources, continues to support local communities while providing an indispensable product to the Haitian economy.

Meet Edison Juste: An Outstanding Singer

Beyond the chaos, in the heart of the desolation, there are voices that resonate. They shatter the silence, depicting the macabre reality of everyday life in a thousand shards, thus defying evil to give meaning to life and make each day a place where hope flows like a stream of honey. Edison Juste’s voice is one of them: it sings of hope, of love, while praising God. It was in Carrefour, 27 years ago, that the young singer’s sun rose within a family of four children. Edison Juste is the youngest. Between the diplomat, the lawyer, and the entrepreneur that he is, singing remains his greatest passion for this young married man. Like many Haitian singers, Edison Juste took his first steps at a very early age in a choir—Yahvé Shama—alongside children his own age. He would later become the lead singer. This was in 2010. Asked about his first real encounter with music, he replied: q~It was in 2013 that I really started singing. It was during a competition organized by Styl Doz at the Évangélique de la Grâce church,~q, says the active member of the group YES (Yon Enstriman Sen), who also expresses his gratitude to singer Joseph Rhousteau, who inspired and coached him for several years. Edison Juste stands out not only for his style, but also for his versatility. His ability to make the notes vibrate with a moving candor seems limitless. Yet, he has his preferences: q~There isn’t a single style that characterizes me. I see myself as a liquid: I take the shape of the container. Even if I remain haunted by Worship, Compass, and Jazz, he confides. Today, the Carrefour native boasts a rich and varied musical repertoire. From 2010 to 2025, he has grown both in maturity and in renown: five competition wins, his first song recorded in 2018, joining the band YES, his participation in the second album, Se pou m beni, a collaboration with Amos César in a musical, and his contribution to the album Anprent by maestro Berwin Sydney. For him, this journey is already a great source of inspiration. Edison Juste never does without the presence of God, whether in the creative process or during his stage performances: "What influences and motivates me the most is always the presence of Elohim, and the audience’s desire to savor and appreciate my work," he says.

A significant step forward for Haïti in terms of reparations and restitution

At the 47th Ordinary Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of State and Government, Haïti took an important step by joining the CARICOM Reparations Commission. Dominique Dupuy, Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced this development following her meeting with Rector Fritz Deshommes. On the international stage, Ms. Dupuy stated: “Following my meeting with Rector Fritz Deshommes, regarding the creation of a Working Group at the UEH on Reparations and Restitutions Related to Slavery and Haitian Independence, we have brought the matter to the 47th Ordinary Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of State and Government, in which I am taking part alongside President Edgard Leblanc Fils.” This Working Group will sit as the Haitian National Committee within the CARICOM Reparations Commission. “Haïti now joins the CARICOM Reparations Commission where this Working Group will sit as the Haitian National Committee,” added Dominique Dupuy. This initiative represents a crucial step for Haiti, marking its active engagement in regional discussions on historical reparations and restitution.