A Shared History: The Legacy of the Slave Trade
Haiti, formerly known as Saint-Domingue, was a French colony that thrived on sugarcane and coffee plantations. However, the island’s economic growth was largely based on the exploitation of millions of African slaves who were deported to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, these slaves, who came from various regions of West and Central Africa, were forced to work in appalling conditions on the plantations of Saint-Domingue.
Modern Haitian culture, particularly its religious beliefs, musical traditions, dances, and rituals, has its roots in African cultures. Although Africans were reduced to the status of slaves, they resisted by maintaining many practices and beliefs that have survived through the centuries, becoming fundamental elements of Haitian identity.
