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Les Éditions Julien Hilaire launches "Temps de poésie"

In collaboration with HPost5, Les Éditions Julien Hilaire are launching a call for contributions for the publication of the first issue of "Temps de poésie", a literary magazine that, according to the initiators, aims to be a space for exchange, creation and celebration of contemporary poetry. In these times marked by a penchant for destruction, chaos and the law of silence, speaking has become an obligation. Speaking to denounce. Speaking to resist. Speaking to build. The first issue of "Temps de poésie" with the theme "Cathedral under construction, poems as labor" is part of this approach. This theme is an invitation to reflect on the act of building, whether material, spiritual or metaphorical, we read in the press kit. Haïti Wonderland met Ansky Hilaire, the man who leads the project. Interview.

Meet Edison Juste: An Outstanding Singer

Beyond the chaos, in the heart of the desolation, there are voices that resonate. They shatter the silence, depicting the macabre reality of everyday life in a thousand shards, thus defying evil to give meaning to life and make each day a place where hope flows like a stream of honey. Edison Juste’s voice is one of them: it sings of hope, of love, while praising God. It was in Carrefour, 27 years ago, that the young singer’s sun rose within a family of four children. Edison Juste is the youngest. Between the diplomat, the lawyer, and the entrepreneur that he is, singing remains his greatest passion for this young married man. Like many Haitian singers, Edison Juste took his first steps at a very early age in a choir—Yahvé Shama—alongside children his own age. He would later become the lead singer. This was in 2010. Asked about his first real encounter with music, he replied: q~It was in 2013 that I really started singing. It was during a competition organized by Styl Doz at the Évangélique de la Grâce church,~q, says the active member of the group YES (Yon Enstriman Sen), who also expresses his gratitude to singer Joseph Rhousteau, who inspired and coached him for several years. Edison Juste stands out not only for his style, but also for his versatility. His ability to make the notes vibrate with a moving candor seems limitless. Yet, he has his preferences: q~There isn’t a single style that characterizes me. I see myself as a liquid: I take the shape of the container. Even if I remain haunted by Worship, Compass, and Jazz, he confides. Today, the Carrefour native boasts a rich and varied musical repertoire. From 2010 to 2025, he has grown both in maturity and in renown: five competition wins, his first song recorded in 2018, joining the band YES, his participation in the second album, Se pou m beni, a collaboration with Amos César in a musical, and his contribution to the album Anprent by maestro Berwin Sydney. For him, this journey is already a great source of inspiration. Edison Juste never does without the presence of God, whether in the creative process or during his stage performances: "What influences and motivates me the most is always the presence of Elohim, and the audience’s desire to savor and appreciate my work," he says.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines, leader of the Haitian Revolution

In the annals of the history of Haiti, an island located in the Caribbean at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico and shared with the Dominican Republic, Jean-Jacques Dessalines emerges like a phoenix from the ashes of oppression. Born a slave on September 20, 1758 in the home of Henri Duclos, in Cormier (Grande-Rivière-du-Nord), in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, Dessalines was a Creole of African (Afro-Caribbean) origin. Freed during the 1794 abolition achieved through slave revolts, actually served as an officer in the French army during the French Revolution. At that time, the ideas of freedom and equality were at the heart of the concerns of the inhabitants of the colonies. Dessalines actively participated in the fighting against the Spanish and British forces, alongside the French, in Santo Domingo. Having risen to the rank of Lieutenant General, Jean-Jacques Dessalines turned against the French during the Leclerc expedition, sent to Saint-Domingue by Bonaparte to reestablish colonial authority and slavery during the Haitian Revolution. After the capture and deportation of Toussaint Louverture to France on June 7, 1802, Dessalines assumed a leading role in continuing the struggle for independence. He led numerous battles, including the battle of Crête-à-Pierrot in March 1802, where he galvanized his soldiers with his famous declaration: “Let those who want to remain slaves of the French leave the fort, let those, on the contrary, who want to die as free men, line up around me.” On January 1, 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines achieved the long-awaited goal of independence by proclaiming Haïti as a sovereign nation, becoming the second country in the Americas to gain independence from a colonial power. He became the first leader of the newly formed nation and was named Emperor under the name James I. However, his imperial reign was marked by authoritarian and brutal policies, including the massacre of many white settlers and the redistribution of land to peasants that was in the hands of the generals of the independence army. In addition, he organized the hunt for delinquents in the city while implementing rigorous agrarian policies, considering that they represented a threat to the stability of the nation, these controversial actions caused divisions within Haitian society. Dessalines was assassinated on October 17, 1806 following a plot organized by some of his generals in the Haitian army. His death marked the end of his brief but influential period in power. Despite the controversies surrounding his methods, he is recognized as the main architect of Haiti’s independence and his name was honored in 1903 by being attributed to the Haitian national anthem, La Dessalinienne, composed by Justin Lhérisson.Finally, the great visionary man Jean Jacques Dessalines remains an emblematic figure in the history of Haiti, recognized for his role in the fight for independence and the end of slavery in the region.

Nanm Vodoua brings forth the fire of Ogou Feray at the French Institute

One year after the release of their album “TRAVÈSE”, the group Nanm Vodou continues to trace its musical path with passion and authenticity. With the valuable support of the French Institute in Haiti, Nanm Vodou presented the concert “Yon lane pou Travèse” on Thursday July 18, 2024, to mark the start of the summer festivities. Fans of Haitian music and culture experienced a captivating evening, where the rhythms of drums and sacred chants resonated with spiritual intensity.

Carrefour | Kwen Pawòl Lib: towards the 19th exit

Kwen Pawòl Lib is preparing to start the new year in style. The nineteenth exit, the first of the year, is scheduled for this Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. at Caroline Bar, Mon Repos 38, Carrefour. This socio-cultural initiative, which aims to bring together people of all ages, offers a space for dialogue where participants can exchange and reflect on societal, environmental, etc. topics and issues. For this edition, Kwen Pawòl Lib will have the honor of welcoming a distinguished speaker: Gutenberg Destin. A psychologist by training, Gutenberg Destin is one of the instigators of Ribanbèl Timoun, a space dedicated to the well-being and relaxation of children. Sensitized to environmental issues, he is currently pursuing studies in geography at the University Institute of Sciences and leads numerous training courses for national and international institutions, including UNESCO, on risk and disaster management. Alongside Jean Rony Charles, who will moderate this 19th issue, the discussion will focus on the theme: "Natural disasters do not exist...". This meeting promises to be rich and essential, especially in a context where Haïti is among the most vulnerable countries facing environmental challenges. Come in large numbers! Author: Estriplet Millor Restitution of the content creation workshop: Carrefour, behind the scenes.

A Journey to the Heart of Pre-Columbian Heritage: A Look Back at the Arawak, Tainos, Ciboney Survival Event

On December 5, 2024, the Emmanuel Charlemagne Municipal Cultural Center opened its doors for an unforgettable day dedicated to the history and memory of the pre-Columbian peoples of Haïti and the Caribbean. Entitled "Arawak, Tainos, Ciboney Survival", this cultural initiative brought together enthusiasts, researchers and the curious in an atmosphere rich in discoveries and emotions.