In solidarity with the Haitian people

Francophonie 2010 is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives during Haiti’s recent earthquake, and to the rebuilding efforts of those who survived.  During the festival, we offer our patrons two ways to contribute to the ongoing reconstruction in Haiti:
 
-- For every Francophonie festival event ticket purchased through InstantSeats, patrons have the opportunity to make a $10 contribution
-- The Grande Fête will feature the raffle of two roundtrip tickets to Tahiti, with all proceeds designated for Haitian relief
 
Funds collected will be given to the American Red Cross to support their campaign to help the people of Haiti renew their country.  Thank you for your generous help.

Haiti in a nutshell

HISTORY

Haiti is located on the western third of Hispaniola, an island it shares with the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. Originally occupied by the Taíno people, Europeans arrived at the end of the fifteenth century. They brought African slaves to Hispaniola throughout the sixteenth century to work in mining and agriculture. The territory of Hispaniola was divided by the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697, granting the western part of the island to France and the eastern part to Spain. France named their domain Saint-Domingue. In 1791, Toussaint l’Ouverture helped lead a slave revolt and on January 1, 1804, Saint-Domingue won its independence from France. The former slaves renamed the country Haiti to reflect its Taíno heritage. Haiti was the first country in Latin American to gain its independence.

CULTURE

Art in Haiti has a long and rich history. The origins of Haitian art can be traced back to cave paintings and body art of the Taíno people. Painting flourished after Haiti’s independence with artists such as Denis, Timoléon Déjoie, Numa Desroches, and Colbert and Archibald Lochard.

In the 1930s, painting reemerged after a period of political instability with the Ecole Indigéniste and the works of Pétition Savain, Georges Remponneau, Edouard Preston, and Antoine Derennoncourt. This renaissance in Haitian painting led to the creation of the Centre d’Art. Subsequent artistic movements included Réalisme de Cruauté and l’Esthétique de la Beauté in the 1950s and 1960s. Some examples of Haitian art can be found at:www.cawmagazine.com

Like art, Haitian music reflects the diverse history of the country. Compas or konpa is a popular genre of music and is considered to be the national music of Haiti. Compas is characterized by African drumming with Spanish and French influences and lyrics sung in Haitian Creole. This popular musical genre can be heard at festivals and events throughout Haiti.

Similarly, the cuisine of Haiti has also been influenced by traditional French, Spanish, and African cuisine. Rice and beans are ubiquitous, especially in combination with chicken, pork, or beef, with herbs and peppers used for seasoning. For some delicious Haitian recipes, visit: www.everythinghaitian.com