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Haiti: Heritage and Historical Sites

Haiti, a Caribbean island located in the Greater Antilles archipelago, has a cultural and historical heritage of unparalleled richness. From its picturesque beaches to its majestic mountains and historic monuments, the country bears witness to centuries of complex and fascinating history. This article explores some of Haiti’s most significant heritage and historical sites.

Why do some people ignore the Guede party?

The Guédés Festival is a significant event in the Haitian Vodou religion. It takes place every November 1st and 2nd in Haiti, and it is dedicated to paying homage to the dead. Here are some elements to better understand this celebration: Meaning of Guedes: Guédés are spirits of death in the voodoo pantheon. They symbolize the transition between life and the afterlife. Different names are attributed to these spirits: Papa Guédé, Guédé Nibo, Guédé Masaka, Guédé fouillé, Guédé plumage. In the Voodoo concept, the Guédés maintain a harmonious relationship with the dead. Ritual of the Feast of the Gedes: Vodouists clean the graves and bring flowers to honor the memory of the deceased. They dance and sing to the rhythm of vodou and rara music. Vèvè (sacred symbols) are drawn to invoke the spirits. The color black, symbol of mourning, marks the beginning of life in the voodoo world. Purple mauve evokes transformation, and white symbolizes purity. Relationship with Protestants and Christians: Some Protestants reject the Feast of Geeds and organize days of prayer to chase away “evil spirits”. Christians do not pray for their dead, because their faith teaches them that the deceased are welcomed by the Lord. In short, the Guédés festival is a crucial moment for Vodouists, marking the temporary return of spirits to the world of Vodou. It shows respect for the dead and is an integral part of Haitian culture.

Jennifer EUGÈNE: A Pen in Service of Humanity

Jennifer EUGÈNE was born in Port-au-Prince on May 1st, 1995. She is an author and lawyer by training, and she skillfully combines her two passions: the defense of human rights and writing. From a young age, she found shelter and refuge in words, offering solace against a world that is often too chaotic and difficult. While other young people of her age shared their lives out loud, she immersed herself in her own universe, that of writing. At the age of fourteen, writing became for her more than just a hobby: it became a means of finding inner peace, overcoming struggles, and understanding herself. It was in this context that she found her true vocation.

A successful eighth outing for the Wednesday of the Monferrier Dorval chair

On Wednesday, October 24, 2024, in the premises of the Office of Citizen Protection, on the road to Bourdon, the 8th Wednesday outing of the Monferrier Dorval chair took place. As a reminder, the Wednesdays of the chair are one of the initiatives taken within the framework of the Monferrier Dorval chair of constitutional law, established on March 12 by the Council of the State University of Haïti (UEH). The rector, Mr. Fritz Deshommes, is the technical director. Professor Henri Marge Dorléans, former Minister of Justice, is the scientific director, and the dean of the Faculty of Law and Economics, Me Eugène Pierre Louis, holds the position of both technical and scientific vice-president. It should also be noted that the two main objectives of the chair are, on the one hand, to promote the memory of Professor Dorval, then President of the Bar Association, who was cowardly assassinated in front of his house, near that of the presidential couple at the time, on August 20, 2020. On the other hand, it is about promoting the work he had undertaken in the country, as a professor of constitutional law, around the need to make a constitutional change to facilitate effective governance and better institutional management of Haiti.

Carrefour: Kay Jèn Yo s’ouvre aux enfants

Dans le cadre du programme de promotion des droits et de l’épanouissement de l’enfant "Timoun se moun" piloté par l’organisation Action Communautaire de Transformation et d’Intégration Formelle (ACTIF), Kay Jèn Yo organise, du 18 au 24 août 2025 (9h am - 1h pm), "Espas Lajwa", un camp d’été qui cible trente (30) enfants de 7 à 15 ans. Une grande panoplie d’activités éducatives, créatives et ludiques sont programmées pour le plus grand bien des enfants. Ils auront droit à des ateliers de : peinture, crochet, macramé, langue des signes, théãtre, lecture, échec, etc. Dans un contexte aussi traumatogène où la violence est monnaie courante, de telles initiaves sont d’une importance capitale. " Les enfants ne sont pas imperméables au stress et autres pathologies que peut provoquer la situation morbide qui sévit dans le pays actuellement", souligne Blondy Wolf Leblanc (Gabynho) DG a.i de ACTIF. "Espace Lajwa se veut donc, un refuge, un lieu où les enfants peuvent s’exprimer en toute sécurité, un espace sécurisant où ils peuvent exprimer leurs émotions à travers plusieurs médiums", précise-t-il. Plus loin, l’animateur socioculturel encourage d’autres structures à travers le pays à prendre des initiatives de ce genre au bénéfice de la santé mentale des enfants. Espas Lajwa est quasiment gratuit. Un frais de participation de 150 gourdes est requis pour la semaine. Quid Kay Jèn Yo Issu du projet "Pran Swen Tèt ou", Kay Jèn Yo est un projet de l’organisation ACTIF supporté par La Perfection École de Haute Couture visant à combattre la violence par l’engagement communautaire à travers des programmes de formation professionnelle et artistique. Situé au numéro 18, imp. Thoby, rue Desdunes, Mahotière 79, Kay Jèn Yo est ouvert du lundi au dimanche (9h am - 6h pm). Sebastien Jean Michel

Csimon Publishing Takes a New Step Toward Young Haitian Authors

The publishing house Csimon Publishing, led by Dr. Cherlin Simon, is excited to announce the creation of a subsidiary of Csimon Publishing in Haiti. Indeed, a management team, aimed at strengthening its approach to young Haitian authors, has been set up by the parent company, located in Virginia, United States. The goal of this initiative is to better support its authors, particularly the younger ones, offering them reliable assistance to foster their creativity and help them thrive. The committee is also in place to better coordinate the publishing house’s actions in their favor. This aligns perfectly with Csimon Publishing’s vision to actively contribute to the elevation of Haitian literary culture on a global scale, while highlighting Haitian talents and creating a bridge between Haïti and the rest of the world, which constitutes global culture. It is worth noting that among the more than 150 works already published by Csimon, most are works by Haitian authors living in Haiti.