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| "Neg Mawon" pre-January 12, 2010. The National Palace in the background collapsed on that day during an earthquake. |
For the week of January 1st, I was invited to Father Lafontant's house in Port-au-Prince to enjoy time with his family and partake in a wonderful meal of Soup Joumou. I am grateful for the time I spent with them, the generosity of their hospitality, and the opportunity to experience more of Haiti through language, cuisine, history, family, music, worship, and many games of kazino.
Given that each new year in Haiti marks the celebration of Haitian independence, I thought it would be appropriate to write about Haiti as I've experienced it so far, including the festivities over the holidays. I'd like to do that by sharing the song "Ayiti Se" by Mikaben.
"Ayiti Se" is a beautiful song that, to me and the Haitians that have shared it with me, captures the essence of Haiti. I hope that you enjoy it. Many of the things in the song I have experienced, while many others I've yet to encounter or explore. Translation for the lyrics is courtesy of Kreyolicious. The English is a bit embellished, but it does convey the meaning of some of the phrases pretty well. I used this instead of doing my own translation.
Ayiti Se
Ayiti se bèl lanmè se bèl montay ak bèl rivyè
Se bèl plaj ak pye kokoye bèl peyizaj ak bèl koulè
Ayiti se sant kafe kap monte nan nen m’ le maten
Se sant lawouze ki fèk poze pou flè dizè ka boujonnen
Ayiti se Basen Ble Kaskad Pichon avèk Sodo
Se Akaden La Sitadèl se Labadi ak Marigo
Ayiti se Lavale se Pòsali ak Zabriko
Se Mòn Lasèl Pik Makaya se Mamlad ak Mòn Pilbowo
Se bèl plaj ak pye kokoye bèl peyizaj ak bèl koulè
Ayiti se sant kafe kap monte nan nen m’ le maten
Se sant lawouze ki fèk poze pou flè dizè ka boujonnen
Ayiti se Basen Ble Kaskad Pichon avèk Sodo
Se Akaden La Sitadèl se Labadi ak Marigo
Ayiti se Lavale se Pòsali ak Zabriko
Se Mòn Lasèl Pik Makaya se Mamlad ak Mòn Pilbowo
Haiti is a pretty sea, a stunning mountain with beautiful rivers
It’s pretty beaches with coconut trees, lovely landscapes with bright colors
Haiti is the aroma of coffee that goes up my nostrils at dawn
It’s the scent of dew drops that’s set for the budding flowers of 10 o’clock of the morning
Haiti is Basin Blue, the Pichon waterfalls along with Saut D’eau
It’s the Arcadins isles, the Citadelle castle, it’s Labadie and Marigot
Haiti is La Valée, Macaya’s Peak, Marmelade and Pilboreau mountains
It’s pretty beaches with coconut trees, lovely landscapes with bright colors
Haiti is the aroma of coffee that goes up my nostrils at dawn
It’s the scent of dew drops that’s set for the budding flowers of 10 o’clock of the morning
Haiti is Basin Blue, the Pichon waterfalls along with Saut D’eau
It’s the Arcadins isles, the Citadelle castle, it’s Labadie and Marigot
Haiti is La Valée, Macaya’s Peak, Marmelade and Pilboreau mountains
Ayiti se yon dous makòs se yon ponyen pistach griye
S’on ji kole ki pou banm fòs s’on boutèy kola ki byen glase
Ayiti s’on bon griyo s’on bon fritay on bon taso
S’on bon legim avèk sirik s’on bon diri avek lalo
Ayiti s’on bon bouyon s’on soup joumou a tout piman
S’on bon kasav avèk manba
Ke ou tranpe nan akasan
Ayiti s’on bon donmbwèy kap marinen nan yon bon sòs pwa
S’on bwakochon on bon kleren Ayiti s’on bon kafe diswa
S’on ji kole ki pou banm fòs s’on boutèy kola ki byen glase
Ayiti s’on bon griyo s’on bon fritay on bon taso
S’on bon legim avèk sirik s’on bon diri avek lalo
Ayiti s’on bon bouyon s’on soup joumou a tout piman
S’on bon kasav avèk manba
Ke ou tranpe nan akasan
Ayiti s’on bon donmbwèy kap marinen nan yon bon sòs pwa
S’on bwakochon on bon kleren Ayiti s’on bon kafe diswa
Haiti is a sweet and enticing home-made candy bar, it’s a handful of grilled peanuts
It’s a creamy smoothie that gives energy, it’s an enticing bottle of ice cola
Haiti is some appetizing fried pork, it’s a delicious fritter, some tasty fried goat
It’s a delicious vegetable stew laden with crabs, it’s flavorful rice with country greens
Haiti is a scrumptious broth, a pumpkin soup well-seasoned with bell peppers
It’s mouthwatering cassava with peanut butter
That you dip in a corn shake
Haiti is a dumpling that’s soaking in a bean dip
It’s pig woods, some good liquor
Haiti is the divine coffee that you drink at night
It’s a creamy smoothie that gives energy, it’s an enticing bottle of ice cola
Haiti is some appetizing fried pork, it’s a delicious fritter, some tasty fried goat
It’s a delicious vegetable stew laden with crabs, it’s flavorful rice with country greens
Haiti is a scrumptious broth, a pumpkin soup well-seasoned with bell peppers
It’s mouthwatering cassava with peanut butter
That you dip in a corn shake
Haiti is a dumpling that’s soaking in a bean dip
It’s pig woods, some good liquor
Haiti is the divine coffee that you drink at night
[Chorus]
Ayiti cheri pou jan mwen renmen w
Mwen vin depoze ti kè mwen nan men w
Ayiti cheri pou jan m’adore w
Pa gen anyen kap janm fè mwen kite w
Ayiti cheri pou jan mwen renmen w
Mwen vin depoze ti kè mwen nan men w
Ayiti cheri pou jan m’adore w
Pa gen anyen kap janm fè mwen kite w
Ayiti cheri pou jan mwen renmen w
Mwen vin depoze ti kè mwen nan men w
Ayiti cheri pou jan m’adore w
Pa gen anyen kap janm fè mwen kite w
Ayiti cheri pou jan mwen renmen w
Mwen vin depoze ti kè mwen nan men w
Ayiti cheri pou jan m’adore w
Pa gen anyen kap janm fè mwen kite w
Haiti baby, as much as I love you
I’ve come to put my heart in your hands
Haiti baby, as much as I adore you
Nothing will let me let go of you
Haiti baby, as much as I love you
I’ve come to put my heart in your hands
Haiti baby, as much as I adore you
Nothing will let me let go of you
I’ve come to put my heart in your hands
Haiti baby, as much as I adore you
Nothing will let me let go of you
Haiti baby, as much as I love you
I’ve come to put my heart in your hands
Haiti baby, as much as I adore you
Nothing will let me let go of you
Ayiti s’on bèl mizik se yon bann a pye s’on twoubadou
S’on son kata seremoni, se yon son kwachi yon son tanbou
Ayiti se tè Ogou, se tè zansèt kite pou nou
Se la lesklavaj t’aboli se yon tè libète ak vodou
Ayiti se festival se tisourit se fèt chanpèt
S’animasyon nan Kanaval se yon ti zile k’ pa janm frèt
Ayiti s’on domino se yon bezig se yon twasèt
S’on reveyon kote ki gen bouyon se la k’ gen kenbe tèt
S’on son kata seremoni, se yon son kwachi yon son tanbou
Ayiti se tè Ogou, se tè zansèt kite pou nou
Se la lesklavaj t’aboli se yon tè libète ak vodou
Ayiti se festival se tisourit se fèt chanpèt
S’animasyon nan Kanaval se yon ti zile k’ pa janm frèt
Ayiti s’on domino se yon bezig se yon twasèt
S’on reveyon kote ki gen bouyon se la k’ gen kenbe tèt
Haiti is pounding music, a street music band parade, a troubadour
It’s a ceremony, a calabash dish, and a drum
Ayiti is Ogou’s land, the land our ancestors left for us
It’s where slavery was abolished, it’s the land of the free and the land of Vodun
Haiti is festivals, it’s Little Mouse, it’s ritual dances of Chanpêtre
It’s dancing and fun at carnival, it’s a little island that never sleeps
Haiti is a game of dominoes, it’s a winning hand of dice and cards
It’s a Christmas Eve party with some good broth, that’s where you hold your head up
It’s a ceremony, a calabash dish, and a drum
Ayiti is Ogou’s land, the land our ancestors left for us
It’s where slavery was abolished, it’s the land of the free and the land of Vodun
Haiti is festivals, it’s Little Mouse, it’s ritual dances of Chanpêtre
It’s dancing and fun at carnival, it’s a little island that never sleeps
Haiti is a game of dominoes, it’s a winning hand of dice and cards
It’s a Christmas Eve party with some good broth, that’s where you hold your head up
Ayiti se yon konbit peyizan kap sèkle latè
Se ti machann yo kap desann
Pou y’al goumen ak lavi chè
Ayiti se timoun yo k’ap reve de yon bèl avni
Se dlo rigòl la kap desann pa konn kote l pra-l ateri
Ayiti se anba tant lan depi apre 12 janvye
Se labou k’ lev’ on move sant chak lè on ti lapli fin tonbe
Ayiti se sou beton’an pou konn “la vrai” reyalite
Se youn ki tris men grasadye se pa li sèlman n’ ka chante
Se ti machann yo kap desann
Pou y’al goumen ak lavi chè
Ayiti se timoun yo k’ap reve de yon bèl avni
Se dlo rigòl la kap desann pa konn kote l pra-l ateri
Ayiti se anba tant lan depi apre 12 janvye
Se labou k’ lev’ on move sant chak lè on ti lapli fin tonbe
Ayiti se sou beton’an pou konn “la vrai” reyalite
Se youn ki tris men grasadye se pa li sèlman n’ ka chante
Haiti is a collective of farmers who get together to work the land
It’s the women street vendors descending down the city
To go fight the hard life head to head
Haiti is a little kid that’s dreaming of a bright future
It’s the dirty water from sewer streams that doesn’t quite know where it’s going
Haiti is being under the tent since January 12th
It’s mud on the levees that gives off a foul smell every time it rains
Haiti is the ground that doesn’t know true realities
It’s a sad one, but by God’s grace, it’s not the only one that we can sing
It’s the women street vendors descending down the city
To go fight the hard life head to head
Haiti is a little kid that’s dreaming of a bright future
It’s the dirty water from sewer streams that doesn’t quite know where it’s going
Haiti is being under the tent since January 12th
It’s mud on the levees that gives off a foul smell every time it rains
Haiti is the ground that doesn’t know true realities
It’s a sad one, but by God’s grace, it’s not the only one that we can sing
[Chorus]
Ayiti se yon manman ki konn sa yo rele doulè
On fanm ki djanm on fanm vanyan menm si l’ konnen li pa pafè
Ayiti se yon bèl fanm ki menmsi l pase anpil mizè
Li toujou f’on jan l ranje kò l pou tout pitit li toujou fyè
Ayiti se tout bagay sa a yo ki fè ke nou renmen w
E menm si wout la long konnen n’ap toujou la pou n kenbe men w
Ayiti cheri w mèt kwè m
Pa gen anyen k’ap fè m’kite-w
Map toujou la pou ou cheri
Kite mizik sa a dòlote-w
On fanm ki djanm on fanm vanyan menm si l’ konnen li pa pafè
Ayiti se yon bèl fanm ki menmsi l pase anpil mizè
Li toujou f’on jan l ranje kò l pou tout pitit li toujou fyè
Ayiti se tout bagay sa a yo ki fè ke nou renmen w
E menm si wout la long konnen n’ap toujou la pou n kenbe men w
Ayiti cheri w mèt kwè m
Pa gen anyen k’ap fè m’kite-w
Map toujou la pou ou cheri
Kite mizik sa a dòlote-w
Haiti is a mother that doesn’t know the meaning of pain
Who stands strong and tall, who’s brave—even though she’s conscious that she’s far from perfect
Haiti is a beautiful woman who’s been through a whole lot
But who cleans up nicely so that her kids can walk with their heads up—proud
Haiti, it’s all these things that make us love you
Even if the road is long, I know that we’ll always be here to hold your hand
Haiti baby, believe you me
Nothing will ever make me leave you
Let this song right here serenade you
Who stands strong and tall, who’s brave—even though she’s conscious that she’s far from perfect
Haiti is a beautiful woman who’s been through a whole lot
But who cleans up nicely so that her kids can walk with their heads up—proud
Haiti, it’s all these things that make us love you
Even if the road is long, I know that we’ll always be here to hold your hand
Haiti baby, believe you me
Nothing will ever make me leave you
Let this song right here serenade you
Can't wait to see you and visit this beautiful Haiti. A little over 24 hours now - so excited!
ReplyDeleteLove, Mom and Dad