Haiti: Freedom and Creativity from the Mountains to the Sea
odd: label: Introduction
content: Haiti has long been beset with grave problems - and a few years after the 2004 Festival it would suffer the devastating earthquake of 2010. But Haitians' love of freedom nevertheless inspires them and nurtures their imaginations. Despite and often because of the challenges they have continued to face, Haitians create powerful artistic expressions in music, painting, crafts, sculpture, and architecture; in religion; and in language. The encounter ofTaino and African cultures, along with that of European colonizers, gave birth to the dynamic Creole culture that defines Haiti today. As a result, Haiti is one of the richest nations in terms of its culture and its people. Through the voices and creations of her people, that indefatigable and ever-resourceful spirit of creativity and resilience was celebrated at the Festival during Haiti's bicentennial year of 2004.

The creativity at the root of Haiti's heritage has been and continues to be expressed in many ways. In the visual and plastic arts, creativity may actually arise as the result of the distressed circumstances in which many people live. Thus, very often Haitian artists and craftspeople transform and restore life to things others throw away, like old carburetors, bent cooking utensils, or empty plastic juice bottles. It is that quest for new materials and forms that liberates their creativity, and, in turn, it is that creativity that validates their freedom.

Craftsmanship was one of the few dynamic sectors of Haiti's economy at the time of the Festival. In the city of Jacmel, for example, an especially vibrant and viable activity is the craft of papier-mache. Originally used to create elaborate and breathtaking masks for the traditional Carnival, papier-mache has become a veritable industry with artisans making mirrors, place mats, bowls, furniture, and other utilitarian as well as decorative products. Basketry and other straw work are also important commercial activities. Influenced by indigenous, African, and European traditions, products vary around the country, depending on the types of fiber that are available and the needs of consumers. Like weaving, woodcarving is an ancient art form drawing on Native, African, and European traditions. With certain species of trees such as cedar and mahogany disappearing, the supply of raw materials has dramatically decreased, but craftspeople continue to work. Carved stone frames, candlesticks, bowls, and trays are sold in craft shops. Areas that are rich in clay produce pottery. Such crafts were demonstrated at the Festival by skilled craftspeople, and the Festival Marketplace highlighted a number of local development projects in the craft sector.

The music of Haiti is a creolized music - like so much else in Haiti it is a synthesis of Taino, African, and European music created out of often violent encounters. The guido, a grated gourd scraped to create sound, the conch shell, and the rattle, still used in Haitian ritual music, are reminders of the music of Haiti's original Taino settlers. Their music, infused throughout the Caribbean, found willing company in the drumming vocabularies imported from West and Central Africa and perpetuated in the mountain enclaves where liberated Taino and African descendants (maroons) shared a mutual aversion to slavery and communicated ideas about the composition of the world beyond what was visible to the eye. Specific African sources of Haitian music and dance are most recognizable in the sacred music traditions of Vodou. Several drums, rhythms, and forms of ritual dance are named after their presumed origins on the African continent - rite Congo, rite Ibo, rite Rada (Yoruba or Fon), rite Senegal. Festival visitors had the opportunity to encounter these diverse traditions first-hand in an ounfò or ritual temple.

In addition to their long-term engagement with conserving Haiti's built heritage, Haitian architects and preservationists have begun to document people's ingenious applications of vernacular architecture's principles in urban areas to cope with overpopulation, pollution, and other difficult social and economic conditions. The recycling of materials such as old tires and plastic cups for use as flowerpots, and the vitality and spontaneity of the urban version of the lakou (yard) seen in Haitian slums, are convincing examples that vernacular architecture will continue to influence the future built environment in Haiti. Photographs and models allowed Festival visitors to understand these ongoing processes, as did custom-built structures on the Festival site.

In Haiti, Geri Benoit was Commissioner General and Patrick Delatour and Patrick Vilaire were Curators. At the Smithsonian, Diana Baird N'Diaye was Curator, with Olsen Jean Julien as Program Coordinator and Robert Maguire as Curator of Ayiti Cheri (for the Haitian diaspora).

The program was produced in partnership with the Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad and the Institut Femmes Entrepreneurs (IFE), in collaboration with the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians, and enjoyed the broad-based support of Haitians and friends of Haiti around the world. Major contributors included the Haitian Government and Public Administration, USAID (Aid to Artisans), Rhum Barbancourt, Government of Taiwan, Government of Gabon, Federation of Native Coffee Producers and Development Alternatives Inc. (Haitian Blue), HaiTel, UNESCO, Comcel, DairnlerChrysler, Inter-American Development Bank, Merrill Lynch, SOFIHDES, Unibank, U.S. Embassy in Haiti, Jean Marie Vorbe, Youri Mevs, Clement Beyda, and Harriet Michel. Major in-kind support came from Seaboard Marine and American Airlines with additional assistance from Valerio Canez, Sun Auto, S.A., and Drexco.
label: Researchers
content: Abnor Adély, Michaelle Craan, Raoul Denis, Alex Duquella, Louis Antoine Elysée, Gisele Fleurant, Jean Claude Garoute, Henry Robert Jolibois, Eddy Lubin, Nicole Lumarque, Robert Maguire, Jean Claude Martineau, Frantz Pierre, Jacqueline Pompilus, Pascal Théodore
label: Presenters
content: Mireille Bernardin, Barbara Christophe, Michaelle Craan, Gertie David, Patrick Delatour, Lionel Desmarrates, Alex Duquella, Gerdes Fleurant, Gisele Fleurant, Henry Frank, John Franklin, Jean Claude Martineau, Elizabeth McAlister, Lois Wilcken
label: Participants
content: Agricultural Traditions

Joseph Séraphin Emile, banana farming and craft, Cazal, Haiti

Marie Manolette Honoré, banana farming and craft, Cazal, Haiti

André Telfis, coffee farming, Haiti

Marcel Fortuné, coffee farming, Haiti

Joseph Lovinsky, sugar cane and rum-making, Haiti

Building Arts

Frédéric Théodule, 1955-, Citadel restoration, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Louiness Edmond, 1971-, carpentry, Haiti

Jean Robert Fanfan, 1960-, carpentry, Haiti

Savener Sévère, 1966-, carpentry, Haiti

Craft Traditions

Mamoune Clerossaint, basketry, Cote de Fer, Haiti

Dieu Puissant Lamothe, basketry, La Vallée, Haiti

Pierre Roland Samedi, basketry, Jacmel, Haiti

Anivin Valbrun, 1954-, basketry, Bombardopolis Corbeilles, Haiti

Jean Pierre Richard Desrosiers, 1973-, cut-metal work, Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti

Lubernier Joseph, 1977-, cut-metal work, Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti

Joel Louishomme, Artibonite, musical instrument making, Haiti

Pierre Fougère Chérismé, 1974-, needlework, Fond-des-Nègres, Haiti

Olipsie Daniel, needlework, Terrier Rouge, Haiti

Mireille Delismé, 1965-, needlework, Léogane, Haiti

Avila Raime-Lamy, 1951-, needlework, Cité Soleil, Haiti

Johnny Emmanuel Ambroise, paper crafts, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Frantz Denejour, 1980-, papier-maché, Carnival costume making, Jacmel, Haiti

Tidier Levoyant, 1948-, papier-maché, Carnival costume making, Jacmel, Haiti

Rony Lundi, 1977-, papier-maché, Carnival costume making, Jacmel, Haiti

Milot Scutt, papier-maché, Carnival costume making, Jacmel, Haiti

Jacques Turin, 1968-, papier-maché, Carnival costume making, Jacmel, Haiti

Louisdor Jean, popular painting, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Simon Victor, popular painting, Gros Morne, Haiti

Eriste Dumersier, pottery, Aux Pins, Haiti

Jean Bertho Pierre, pottery, Aux Pins, Haiti

Jean Louis Chéry, stone sculpture, Léogane, Haiti

Yves Lore Courtois, tap-tap construction, Carrefour, Haiti

Jean Eliser Sever, tap-tap construction, Carrefour, Haiti

Joseph Saint Juste Carilien, woodworking, Léogane, Haiti

Foodways and Sacred Feasts

Carline Elisée, 1985-, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Nelie Gilus, 1962, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Marc Antoine Elisée, 1980-, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Joseph Frantz Pierre, 1953-, Carrefour, Haiti

Kids' Corner

Marie Lourdes Elgirus, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Jean Claude (Tiga) Garoute, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Maritime Arts

Pierre Louisnet Beaucé, Luly, Haiti

Sony Constant, Léogane, Haiti

Jean Gesner Elien, 1975-, Luly, Haiti

Osming Pierre, Bois Neuf, Haiti

Music

BALLADS

Boulo Valcourt, ballad singer, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Kod-o-Bann,  -- konbit  -- music  -- Kod-o-Bann, konbit musicMarie Yolene Papouloute Eugene, 1950-, Dondon, HaitiAnani Augustin, Cap Haitïen, HaitiMercile Sainterme, Cayes, HaitiMarie Enite Joseph, Cayes, HaitiRoseline Godar Jean Giles, Petit-Goave, HaitiYanique Florestal-Louidor, 1970-, HaitiMère-de-Grace Prédestin-François, 1969-, Haiti

Réginald Polycard and Friends, old-style  -- konpa  -- and Haiti jazz fusion  -- Réginald Polycard and Friends, old-style konpa and Haiti jazz fusionRéginald Polycard, Port-au-Prince, HaitiRichard Barbot, Port-au-Prince, HaitiJoël Widmaier, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

San Rankin,  -- rara --  music  -- San Rankin, rara musicMérigène Valéus, HaitiRigal Mésidor, HaitiFrantz Eustache, HaitiChantale Dorléan, HaitiDieufort Dorléan, Haiti

Tikoka,  -- twoubadou --  music  -- Tikoka, twoubadou musicKesner Bolane, 1961-, Port-au-Prince, HaitiAllen Juste, 1971-, Port-au-Prince, HaitiWilfrid Bolane, 1954-, Port-au-Prince, HaitiMemé Maudira, 1959-, Port-au-Prince, HaitiChertoute Mathieu, 1948-, Port-au-Prince, HaitiDavid Metellus (Ti Coka), 1950-, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Azor, vodou drumming and Haitian jazz  -- Azor, vodou drumming and Haitian jazzLenord Fortuné, 1965-2011, HaitiFrançois Fortuné, 1963-, HaitiLemour Fortuné, 1957-, HaitiAugustine Fortuné-Massenat, 1962-, HaitiRose-Manie Fortuné, 1968-, HaitiJérome Siméon, 1973-, HaitiElius Ozius, 1958-, HaitiLudner Toussaint, 1959-, HaitiRonine Faustin, 1968-, Haiti

Storytelling

Joseph Jean François, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Jean Claude Martineau, 1937-, Haiti

Voudou

Adely Abnor, Gressier, Haiti

Faucia Dumorney, Gressier, Haiti

Pierre Julmis, Gressier, Haiti
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2004 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2004, Series 2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials