Culture - Haiti Observer Blog

Since the legalization of Voodoo as an authentic faith in 2003, they have grown in political stature. Recently the National Confederation of Haitian Voodoo Practitioners (NCHVP) met with Prime Minister Lamothe to discuss inclusion in the social institutions of the country.

They argued against any policies proposed by conventional religious and women's groups keeping NCHVP from enjoying the rights of other civil society groups. Voodoo High Priestess, Envonie Auguste, stated Haiti's Founding Fathers' ideals included freedom and unity of Haitians, without prejudice of skin color differences, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. She invited the civil society sector to begin a dialogue to right the wrongs inflicted on Voodoo believers, so they may acquire social inclusion in civil institutions.

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I guess growing up without a computer, internet, Iphone, Ipod, or you name it, actually has some value. A recent study has found that most Haitian teenagers, specially those living in the country side are very rich individuals, compared to the rich kids im more developed countries such as US, Canada, France, etc..

Sa se pa pou Ti Moun mal Apri nan Potoprins. Se ti "Payisan"

Now I know you are going to jump on me for saying something like this.

Here is what the University of Illinois study found:

1) Haitian kids are very rich in Family relationships. They have a strong sense of family obligation.

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A study recently conducted by the University of Illinois has highlighted a surprising trend among Haitian teens, and has also highlighted, in some aspects, how they differ from those in a much richer country.

While not having been directly impacted from a financial standpoint by the earthquake in 2010, Haitian teens are adapted to living in states of poverty not dreamt of by most American teens. According to the study, what has been found is that those Haitian teens living in mostly rural areas of Haiti, who suffer from the direst cases of poverty, have little knowledge of, or the desire to follow the more American lifestyle.

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Why do Haitians have to speak French when they are cornered or caught lying? You probably think I am once again making this up; however if you haven't notice that, I am asking that you pay close attention to our leaders during their conversation.

As a Haitian observer, I have been observing this for a while and I think it is about time that we talk about it.

Don't you realize that by now that many of our leaders will change a nice Creole conversation into French? I suspects that their French comes up usually whenever they are caught lying or want to bluff us. At that point most become very philosophical. You start hearing:

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Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue has resigned as Minister of Culture and Communication to take on the responsibilities as an appointee to the Superior Council of Administration and Civil Service (CSAFP). It is an uncompensated volunteer position she gladly assumes to work for the public benefit. She will retain her directorship of IDEA International though.

Ms. Lassegue discussed with the media the work of the council, which is to restructure public management of government and human resource services. Initiatives are generated by the council to weed out inefficient and duplicated practices within the Civil Service agency. She said she will use the skill set she acquired as a minister to work for the betterment of the Civil Service agency.

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In a study conducted by Erkan Gören, a scientist at Germany's Oldenburg University, he has determined how culturally diverse countries are, according to databanks compiled of each country's ethnic and racial demographics. Among 180 countries surveyed, Haiti showed little cultural diversity when assigned a computer-generated rating.

To clarify, the concept of cultural diversity is separate from racial diversity. Cultural diversity is based on racial and ethnic diversities. The more types of racial and ethnic populations, the more languages and cultural values they share.

Haiti's racial lineage began with the indigenous Taino Indians, who were bred out of existence by slaves emigrating from the Republic of Congo. At the same time, the Spanish and French invasions changed Haiti's racial and cultural profile further. The French and the Spanish battled for control of Hispaniola. Eventually the French retained control of the western half of the island, and the Spanish the larger eastern segment, named the Dominican Republican. The French interbred with African slaves, producing the light-skinned mulatto elite, who were high-born and spoke French. The low-born and darker-skinned Haitians were of Spanish and African blood.

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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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French and Creole are the two official languages of Haiti and still, French is given more importance than Creole. This discrimination, as seen by many intellectuals worldwide, is primarily because of the fact that Creole is a mix of several West African languages and French. Creole, which is today the lingua franca, actually started when African slaves arrived at Saint Domingue and tried to speak French by whatever they picked up through listening. The reason why they tried to speak French was that the African slaves from different parts of West Africa had different languages and they failed to communicate with each other. Hence, they picked up French.

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It's a wedding day in Haiti. Be it the Haiti on Hispaniola or the one in the hearts across the Diaspora, a Haitian wedding tradition permeates through geographical and economic boundaries. The customs set out to usher a new couple into their married life are simple, poignant traditions that are quickly being adopted by people outside the Haitian sphere, while being simultaneously forgotten by those within it.

No one is formally invited to a Haitian wedding. This is perhaps one of the first differences between other wedding traditions. It is also one of the reasons why the customs are currently mostly practiced within the rural areas, where word of mouth gives an individual access to a wedding celebration.

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Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe recently made his love life public, announcing that he shares a relationship with the Czech supermodel, Petra Nemcova.

Premye Minis Laurent Lamothe dènyèman fè konnin Li renmin avek Petra Nemcova.

Now it's no longer a rumor. Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe is now dating Haiti's Honorary Consul to the Czech Republic and supermodel Petra Nemcova. The Associated Press reported that Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and Petra Nemcova had been dating for months. It only became more obvious recently then the two were spotted at the ceremonies of the Association of Caribbean States 5th summit that took place in Petion-Ville, Haiti

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