Kanaval - Haiti Observer Blog

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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National Carnival 2012 Committee announced the arrangements of a three day cruise ship. The cruise ship is expected to be in the Bay of Cayes all through the Carnival festival beginning 19th February till 22nd February. The Adriana Cruise ship M.V. is to serve as a floating hotel in the Cap-Haitian and Jacmel Carnival in 2013.

The Cruise - 18th February To 22nd February

This floating hotel, Adriana Cruise Ship, has a large number of facilities and amenities. It is expected to depart in the afternoon on 18th February, Saturday from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. All night, on board there will be a Masquerade Ball. It will arrive at Cayes on the morning of 19th February.

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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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Carnival of students usually takes place on the last Friday before Dimanche Gras, Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras. This is jubilation created specially for the students of various schools in Haiti.

In the old days, Carnival des etudients was particularly important. it was the time when the various schools in Haiti would compete to demonstrate who would be best represent the values of their schools

During that time, hundreds and thousands of participants and many university students are in the parade. You can watch some of the best carnival floats and music, colorful dances and musics touring the city. The same way the students are having fun, thousands of people gathering on both sides of the streets to take part of the ambiance and

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Something that I miss very much during the Carnaval season in Haiti is the display of all types of Hats in the head of the people. I remember seeing beautiful Haitian women dressed in tight jeans, sopsored white t-shirts with beautiful hats, al types, shapes and colors. Some of the most beautiful girls would be making their own parades trying to take the last soud of their favorite band.

Whatever happen to these hats. i don't know about you but I rarely see these things in Haiti during the Carnival season. Are the businesses that use to sponsor these activities no longer interested?

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Here is a picture that I want to share with you. Difficiles de Petion-Ville during Carnival in the 1970's. This was a time of great competition between the Mini-Jazz such as Difficiles, Gypsies and many others. Back in the old days, I was tod that Carnival in Haiti was something special in a sense that it was better organized.

Some of the things I personally remaked. One the competition or the "Polemic" between the musical bands were more discrete. Back in the 1970's and the 1980's, the bands were not involved in name calling. It was left to the imagination of the fans to interpret the various statements. This is unlike today where any one is able to call any other anything. No statement is left to the imagination today

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There is a big difference in the way Carnival in Haiti was some years ago. Many of the old school would tell you that Carnival in the old days was more about Costums and display of color and history in Haiti. They do not think that the same concept exists today

What do you think about Carnival of today vs yesterday. By yesterday, I mean Kanaval of the old generation?

Do you think there have been inprovement of like some, do you believe there has been a decline?

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Jacmel is a city unto itself. Lying on the coastal waters of the Caribbean Sea, its celebration of Carnival knows no parallel elsewhere in Haiti. The focus of Carnival in Jacmel is Mardi Gras, the day before Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Christians on this feast day receive a smudge of ash in the form of a cross on their foreheads, signifying repentance.

While other cities across Haiti celebrate Carnival with crowds of jostling dancers in traditional garb, Jacmel turns these entrenched practices on its head, preferring to stage impromptu theatre pieces in random spots along its streets.

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