My Beautiful Haitian Culture – 6 Unique Things I Love About It

Everyone has a culture. It’s a way of life. It’s also what sets one group of people apart from all other groups. It encompasses social habits, beliefs, traditions, religion, and a myriad of other characteristics and knowledge that are passed down from one generation to the next. The culture I was born into is Haitian. It’s very rich with history, dance, music, arts, food, and much more. In spite of Haiti’s constant tumultuous state, I very much love my culture and the unique components it brings to our society. 

I’m a proud Haitian woman who, against all odds, was able to accomplish a lot. My ambition and resilience come from my ancestors who were the first blacks to lead the way to independence through blood, defiance, determination, and great sacrifices. Known as the catalyst in the abolishment of slavery, Haiti was once called “La Perle des Antilles” (The Pearl of the Antilles) mainly because of its once admired and coveted beauty, natural wealth and opulent tropical forests. Today it’s a broken nation with bare mountains and limited resources imprisoned by extreme poverty and socio-political unrest; but surprisingly (and thankfully) the essence of its culture remains untouched. 

Despite the negativity that surrounds the country, we Haitians – no matter where we live – still reflect elements of our culture in our behaviors, ideas, philosophies, practices, and every day life. And even though I consider myself to be multicultural due to the fact that I adopt some elements from other cultures while suppressing aspects of my own that go against my personal values, I do however embrace a huge chunk of it.  Here are 6 unique things (amongst many) I love about the culture I was born into:  

1. The language (Haitian Creole)

I love speaking our language. It’s a unique blend of French, Spanish, English, Taino, and various other African languages. What makes it different is that some things we say in creole are literally impossible to translate into another language without it losing its oomph or sass. Only Haitians can understand the true meaning of certain phrases. Like the Haitian saying goes “kreyol pale, kreyol konpran-n” (creole is spoken, creole is understood). Certainly our creole is an understood language as much as it is a spoken one. In what other culture can a person describe an event using mostly sounds? Example: “the car went voooooooom, then krreeeeeee, and bloww.”… That, my friend, is an accurate explanation of a car accident. 

2. Haitian Solidarity

I have witnessed it and had first hand experience with it. Haitians are humble, kind hearted and  compassionate people. In difficult times we take care of each other. I grew up in a small town where the neighbors were always ready to lend a hand and share the little they had. And no matter how difficult things are, the Haitian diaspora is always sending money, food and other necessities to support their family, friends, and sometimes complete strangers in Haiti – a custom that has been going on for more than a century.  

3. Haitian Music

Fruit of a mixture of African and Hispanic rhythms, it is music that tells a story. It continually expresses emotions such as joy, happiness, and frustration.  Whether it’s kompa, troubadour, rara or racine, it animates everywhere and always. 

4. Haitian Dance and Haitian Folklore 

There’s no denying that dancing is a way of life in Haiti. Watching Haitians dance is truly a work of art in itself. It’s captivating and makes you want to get up and dance as well. Another essential part of the Haitian culture is Haitian Folklore. It’s characterized by folktales, voodoo songs and dance, and it mostly centers around mystical characters and spirits called “loa.”  I’ve always found this aspect of my culture intriguing even though I never could bring myself to embrace it. 

5. The Art

It’s a complex representation of the Haitian culture and its history. Its roots are strongly African with some American, Indigenous, and European aesthetic appeal. The Haitian steel drum art is one of the most unique forms of art in the world. In terms of artifacts, paintings and craftsmanship, Haitian art truly is a way of life; some of them are true masterpieces.

6. The Food 

I’m not just saying this because I grew up eating Haitian food, but to me no other cuisine can compare. It’s the seasoning for me. It’s a perfect blend of fresh herbs and spices that gives the food it’s mouth-watering aroma and explosive yet delicious taste. It’s not just food, it’s an electric culinary experience. Eating rice is also big in my culture. The majority of Haitians will tell you that unless they have a side of rice with their meal, they have not eaten yet. My favorite type of rice is authentic ‘diri djon-djon’ (Haitian black rice) where the black coloring comes from dried mushrooms. 

It’s hard to believe that Haiti is America’s poorest country. Poverty yes, but undeniably rich in culture.   

I hope you enjoyed reading about my culture. Share in the comments below what your culture is and what you love about it.  Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog for future exclusive contents. 

Carli 🇭🇹