carnival - Haiti Observer Blog

Haitian President Michel Martelly completed his tour of the Artibonite region of Haiti over November 4th and 5th along with his accompanying advisors, and the Public Works and Transport Secretary of State, Philippe Cinéas. The tour stops included Desdunes, Ennery and Gonvaives, which was declared by the Head of State to be the next host of the Carnival in Haiti.

Haiti's Independence city, Gonaives, will host the 2014 carnival festivities being held between Sunday the 2nd of March 2014 and Tuesday the 4th. President Martelly made the announcement while addressing a crowd of Gonaives residents, who cheered loudly to the news that their city would host the festivities. Rounding out his visit, the President also gave away computer science scholarships to 10 lucky and deserving Gonaives residents.

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What would Jacmel tourism be without a decided slant towards the Carnival lift that makes the town so popular? It is a question Jacmel residents raised and the government listened to. Plans for the building of a Museum of Carnival in the city of Jacmel have been outlined and should be completed and the museum inaugurated by the end of 2013 or by the start of next year.

On October 14 and 15, 2013, the project was given the go ahead in the workshop meetings of the body comprised of the Southeast Departmental Directorate of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, UNESCO representatives, artisans and those from the education sector and other local authorities including, Hugues André Paul, the mayor of Jacmel, Jean Solage, the deputy mayor of Jacmel, and the technical assistant of culture and Heritage for the Spanish Cooperation, Carola Paredes.

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Watch the 2013 Carnaval of Flower 2013. The carnival is being provided by two TV stations: Sakapfet and Island TV. From our observation so far, the team of Sakapfet has been providing better pictures and sounds so far.

WATCH BY CLICKING HERE

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The Carnival of Flowers held in July 2012 was big success in Haiti and hence, the same will be repeated this year from July 28 through 30. The same leitmotiv "Yon Ayisyen, Yon pye bwa" will be there but with different décor. There will be flowers everywhere from Sylvio Cator Stadium to the Champ de Mars and will pass through Casernes street and Grand-rue. The Ministry of Culture is planning on this great event along with National Police, Secretariat of State for the Public Safety, Ministry of Tourism, the Primature and the Presidency.

Haiti News - Preparation pour le carnaval des Fleurs 2013

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Since Haiti's 2010 earthquake, the government has targeted agriculture, export, and tourism as solutions to put Haiti back on its feet. Minister of Tourism Stephanie Villedrouin has been proactive in attracting foreign investment to grow Haiti tourism. But the problem is international tourism, which has not contributed much to local governments' economies. Foreign countries, who invest in new resorts and hotels, earn the lion's share of profits. Local governments receive very little, and the outlays for supporting infrastructure cost them more than they can afford. They need the International Money Fund to help carry the burden of financing international airports, road projects, sanitation systems, power grids, and telecommunication systems where hotels and resorts are being erected. International tourism in Haiti drains local economies more than it adds to them.

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Haitian Minister of Culture, Josette Darguste awarded the winners of National Carnival, 2013 during the award ceremony held at Ibo Lele hotel. The award ceremony was marked by the presence of President Michel Martelly along with Sophia Martelly (his wife), Minister of Tourism, Stéphanie Villedrouin. Various other big-shot personalities were also present at the award ceremony. The three winners of the National Carnival were:

• Anbyans - received the 'Award of originality in the creation'.
• Djakout #1 - received the 'Award of best popular animation'.
• Orchestre Septentrional - received the 'Award of the perfomance'.

The winners were awarded with USD 15,000 check each. The groups Barikad, Zatrap, Team Lobey, T-Micky and T-vice were awarded with medals while Fils, Vorbes and NATCOM were awarded with certificates for the invaluable support they provided to National Carnival Cap-Haitien 2013.

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The Haitian president Michel Martelly has received criticism for his move to censor carnival songs from Don Kato and others.

Carnival songs have in the past been performed to denounce bad governance and moon politicians. Carnival songs have also in the past been used to predict the political future of Haiti.

Martelly is now against carnival singers who are against his own governance. In his move Martelly has banned some artists from participating in this year's carnival festival, one of which is the popular musician Don Kato.

Before being a president, Martelly was himself a carnival singer; criticizing every poor government. Now the president is being accused of contradicting himself by trying to censor artist for doing what he did in the past.

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The city of Jacmel has many things going for it. Beside the beautiful beaches with spectacular view and. Beside its historic, 19th century colonial houses which were inhabited by wealthy coffee merchants, Jacmel is also popular for its carnival

For a city considered today to be the cultural capital of Haiti, one very important annual event is Jacmel Carnival. I is usually held one week before the National Carnival in Haiti. During this time, Haitians of all background, rich, poor, black, white and mulatos all merge in the city with only one objective, to experience the best Haitian Carnival of the year.

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The Carnival celebration in Haiti is a time of art, song, dance, and costume. It is a time of self expression also. During this annual celebration, residents of Haiti take to the streets with striking costumes and dance during the parades. they also use this opportunity to send messages to their leaders. Many of the Carnival songs in Haiti are about sex, community's scandals, gossip and mockery of famous people and political personalities.

Surprisingly enough, during the Carnival season, they criticize openly the political leaders

Haitian Carnival is a time or self-expression and creativity where all Haitian get together. The celebration consists of a great deal of song, dance, and costume production, but the importance of the Haitian carnival lies in its ability to let the regular people express themselves, their beliefs, and their creativity.

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This is what I know about "Madi Gras Ciray" which is the people you always see in the carnival that you don't want them to come close to.

According to some some elderly Haitians that i had the privilege to speak to about the Haitian Carnival, I learned that the "Madi gras Ciray do have a meaning in the Haitian history going back to the colonization period.

Painting oneself in black has been a way to avoid capture and consequently heavy punishment from the Slave master. I was told that during the season that came before easter, only the "Colon or slave masters were allowed to do public celebration. The Afranchi or "Les Gens de Couleur" were to some extent allowed to participate in some limited celebration. For the Black slaves, public celebration were forbidden

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