Haiti In Minutes: Episoide 1 | Cultural Influences

Step into the heart of Haitian culture with the debut episode of Haiti in Minutes. Host Emmanuel Étienne invites listeners on a vivid journey through the three worlds that shaped Haiti: West Africa, France, and Hispaniola.

This episode paints immersive scenes of 1700s West Africa, where music, tradition, and community life laid the foundation for many of Haiti’s enduring customs. Emmanuel explores how the forced migration of West Africans during the slave trade brought religion, language, cuisine, and music to Haiti, forging deep cultural ties that remain vibrant today.

Listeners are transported to colonial Hispaniola, where the French influence transformed the island’s identity. The episode delves into the arrival of 800,000 enslaved Africans, the spread of Christianity, and the birth of Haitian Creole—a language molded by both African roots and French grammar.

The story also honors the Taino, the island’s original inhabitants, whose legacy lives on in the very name “Ayiti” and in spiritual traditions that enrich Haiti’s unique blend of Christianity and Vodou.

With evocative storytelling and a focus on music from each culture, this first episode sets the stage for a series dedicated to uncovering the layers of Haiti’s diverse heritage. Whether you’re rediscovering your roots or learning about Haiti for the first time, this episode offers a compelling introduction to the cultural mosaic that is Haiti.