12 Must-See Restaurants to Visit in Haiti

Flag Day: Celebration of Freedom and National Identity in Haiti

On May 18, Haïti celebrates "Flag Day", a public holiday marking the creation of the Haitian flag in 1803. Displayed for the first time in Arcahaie by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, this national symbol results from the fight for independence against slavery and French domination. Established in 1926 by Timothée Paret, then Minister of Justice under the presidency of Louis Borno, this celebration took on a particular dimension in the midst of American occupation and remains as a tradition. Haitians honor this day with school parades, musical groups in the streets and patriotic songs, recalling the union and solidarity of ancestors. The “Flag Festival” is an opportunity to reflect on the values ​​of freedom and determination which continue to forge the Haitian national identity.

Haiti: A look back at the First Rara Weekend in Petit-Goave

Haitian culture is a true treasure, woven from the creativity of its artists, its rich heritage and the diversity of its cultural expressions. Among these cultural gems, the rara stands as a true national emblem, uniting Haitians through its captivating rhythms and centuries-old traditions. During the first Rara weekend, this very essence of Haitian culture shone brightly, revealing palpable social cohesion. Despite the absence of law enforcement, tranquility reigned in Petit-Goâve, testifying to the ability of citizens to come together in peace and conviviality. However, media attention was mainly focused on the first plain, leaving a certain imbalance in the coverage of the festivities. Ratyèfè, three-time reigning champion, once again captivated minds with his talent and artistic mastery, offering an unparalleled spectacle. But his rival, Lambi gran dlo, was not to be outdone, displaying a determination to compete for first place. The event was also marked by unfortunate incidents, reminding us that despite the beauty of tradition, tensions can arise. Clashes between fans of different groups tarnished the festive atmosphere, highlighting the need for careful management of celebrations to avoid such excesses. At the heart of this musical competition, where each group aspires to recognition and victory, a complex picture of rivalries and alliances emerges. Chenn tamarin, although appearing asleep in the first moments, shows signs of waking up, ready to shake up the established order. On Sunday evening, Lambi gran dlo honored the memory of one of its loyal supporters, while Grap Kenèp was the scene of violence between fans, recalling the fragility of social cohesion when passion runs wild. In this whirlwind of emotion and competition, it is crucial to keep in mind that it is the journalist who must look to the events, and not the other way around. This is how we draw up the first ranking for this first weekend: 1. Ratyèfè 2. Lambi grand dlo 3. Chenn tamarind Beyond the results, it is the preservation of unity and mutual respect that must remain at the heart of these celebrations, making the rara not only a musical festival, but above all a symbol of the wealth and resilience of the people Haitian.

Haïti Cuisine: “JOUNEN RETWOUVAY AK MANJE AYISYEN” on the occasion of Andy Vibert’s Birthday

On October 19, 2023, the Haitian community came together to celebrate Andy Vibert’s birthday in an extraordinary way, by organizing a special event titled "JOUNEN RETWOUVAY AK MANJE AYISYEN." This exceptional day was an opportunity to highlight the richness of Haitian cuisine by offering a delicious variety of traditional dishes, such as joumou soup, chiktay, weighed bananas, tonmtonm, tchaka, lalo, white rice, pea and vegetable puree, bòy ak sòs pwa, and of course, the famous griots. Beyond the simple celebration of an anniversary, this evening had a deeper objective, namely to encourage fellow Haitians to favor local consumption. Andy Vibert, by highlighting these traditional dishes, wanted to make guests aware of the importance of supporting national production.

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.

Haïti Wonderland: Technology at the Service of the Haïtian Narrative

On this 220th anniversary of the legendary independence of Haïti, a new initiative is born on the web: Haïti Wonderland. Launched on January 28, 2024, this innovative site’s mission is to revolutionize the way Haïti is perceived online, by highlighting its natural, cultural, historical and human assets. b~An Ambitious Vision~b Haïti Wonderland aspires to a significant change in the perception of Haïti on the Internet. The goal is clear: when you search for “Haïti” on search engines, you should be greeted by beautiful images and inspiring stories. The team behind Haïti Wonderland wants to transform the web to allow only the beauty and wealth of this country to emerge, thus reflecting Haïtian reality. b~Authentic and Immersive Content~b To achieve these goals, Haïti Wonderland regularly publishes news articles and special blogs highlighting Haïti’s beauty, historic destinations, exquisite cuisine and anything else that can spark Haïtian pride. The emphasis is on promoting a positive and authentic image of the country. The experience offered to visitors to the site is also out of the ordinary. Thanks to virtual reality, you can explore the treasures of Haïti from anywhere in the world, providing total immersion in the splendor of this jewel of the Antilles. b~Smart Support and Rewards~b Haïti Wonderland goes beyond by integrating artificial intelligence on its site. This AI is there to provide visitors with all the information they need about Haïti, thus guiding their journey through the site in an interactive way. And that’s not all ! Haïti Wonderland offers an incentive compensation program for contributors. You can earn money by publishing blog posts on the site, rewarded based on the number of views generated. b~Commitment to Narrative Change~b The founder of Haïti Wonderland, Appolon Guy Alain, sees his initiative as a way to actively participate in changing the Haïtian narrative on the Internet. It is open to any collaboration and support aimed at achieving this common objective of improving the image of Haïti online. Through Haïti Wonderland, Appolon also wishes to raise awareness among online media to stop broadcasting demeaning images of Haïti that contribute to tarnishing its reputation. He calls for collective commitment to present the best version of Haïti. To discover the beauty of Haïti from a new perspective, visit the website: https://haitiwonderland.com or download the application from Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id =com.appographic.haitiwonderland. For all correspondence, contact them by email at contact@haitiwonderland.com. Haïti Wonderland: Rediscover, Share, Marvel.

Jean Wood Jude, known as a silent poet, releases his very first collection of Poems.

Born in Port-au-Prince on October 10, 2001, Jean Wood Jude is a young 23-year-old Haitian poet/slammer. His talent and determination in the pursuit of his poetic passion have allowed him to serve the cause of poetry and to be one of the best-known figures in the Haitian poetic world thanks to short videos broadcast on social networks. Apart from his artistic and literary activity, Jean Wood Jean is a student in social communication at the Faculty of Human Sciences (FASCH) within the State University of Haiti. Better known under the nickname Silent Poet, he has more than 200,000 followers on his social networks, and regularly publishes poems in French and Creole. The release of his collection entitled “waltz of a silent heart or Pantalèt Kè m” will only confirm the talent of this young artist.