Haitian American

Guest Post: Creole, The Second Language Of Cuba

Cuba

Written by Jessica Laguerre 

It’s no secret that Haiti our beautiful island and country has been found in the history of so many other nations around the world. It’s not with prejudice or without calculated reasoning that we proclaim Haiti “to rich to be poor”. Whether the influence is of music, and dance, spices, food, and war, it can be said that Haiti, can be fitted as a trailblazer, an ally or “The First”.

Despite many attempts of countries, either sore losing or ignorant, the truth and history about Haiti’s mark on the world can still be seen here today. Evidence in our walk, in our hearts and in our speech, language has always been, since the beginning of time a secret keeper to mysteries of a time period. With every tongue flick and with every accent we are telling on ourselves of just much we remember of times passed. So can many others especially in the Caribbean. Cuba being no exception.

The paths of Cuba and Haiti have crossed many times in the past the most notable introduction of Haiti’s culture and language is when French and Haitians with the arrival of Haitian immigrants to the country.

According to historians and documents that can be found on Afrocubanweb, Haitian culture, French and Haitian Creole languages first entered Cuba with the arrival of Haitian immigrants at the start of the 19th century. Haiti was a French colony, and the final years of the 1791-1804 Haitian Revolution brought a wave of French settlers fleeing with enslaved Haitian/Africans to Cuba. They came mainly to the east, and especially Guantanamo, where the French later introduced sugar cultivation, constructed sugar refineries and developed coffee plantations. By 1804, some 30,000 French were living in Baracoa and Maisí, the furthest eastern municipalities of the province.

With Haïti having a strong presence in Cuba, from this wave, came the Tumba Francesa and the Haïtian roots music in Cuba.  Haïtian tradition contained a strong strain of Dahomey and Congo, both of which are present in western Cuba as well. Haïtian Rada is Cuban Arara, the Dahomey tradition.

Again we see an influx of Haitians in Cuba in the early 1900s that were brought in to help cut sugar. Unfortunately, around 1921 and again in 1937, when the market for sugar fell, they were simply kicked out and sent home, a time that was highlighted by Cuban Film Maker, Gloria Rolando, in the documentary “Reembarque” (Meaning Reshipment).

The neocolonial logic that resided with the people of Cuba, lifted after years of Haitians and their descendants in Cuba didn’t identify as Haitians because of discrimination to be met at the association with the island. That persecution becoming nearly non-existent when Fidel Castro came into power in 1957. By then, Cuba was perhaps the only country to have welcomed so many Haitians fleeing the persecution of the Haitian elites and savage regime attacks. There, reportedly over 300,000 recent arrivals in Cuba.  And Creole, which is still spoken by descendants of the earlier waves, is Cuba’s second language, with a Creole radio program in Havana.

The majority of the Creole speakers that live in Cuba have never been to Haiti and do not possess Haitian ancestry, but merely learned it in their communities. In addition to the eastern provinces where they reside, there are also communities in Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey provinces where the population still maintains Creole, their mother tongue; due to the earlier influx in Haitian immigrants.

Haiti’s Influence and culture is alive in Cuba. There are several Haitian cultural organizations in Cuba such as Bannzil Kreyol Kiba, in addition to a number of Haitian roots groups playing in Cuba, including Ban Rrarra and Desandann. Classes in Creole are offered in Guantanamo, Matanzas and the City of Havana. There is a Creole-language radio program and Haitian immigration to Cuba has increased since a re-establishment of diplomatic relations in 1997.

Ayiti, what can be said, apparently many things, and in the same language.

We are small in size but with influence the size of the world.

References/ Sources:  

Cuba y Haití: Aún más próximas Portal Cultural Principe, 03-04-2004

XXIV Caribbean Festival, Feast of Fire, Santiago de Cuba, 7/04. Dedicated to Haiti

Marc C. McLeod, “Undesirable Aliens: Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism in the Comparison of Haitian and British West Indian Workers in Cuba, 1912-1939.” Journal of Social History (1998): 599-614., 599

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Ray Banlye Broward (BCR) Disid Evalyasyon Anviwònman an Nimewo ID Pwojè Finansye Konte Broward ak Konte Miami-Dade, Florid: 452240-1

Ray Banlye Broward (BCR) Disid
Evalyasyon Anviwònman an Nimewo ID Pwojè Finansye Konte Broward ak Konte Miami-Dade, FLORID: 452240-1

Evalyasyon Anviwònman Revizyon

Konte Broward ak Depatman Transpò Laflorid (FDOT) te devlope yon Evalyasyon Anviwònman (EA) jan Administrasyon Federal Transpò (FTA) mande pou sèvis tren banlye nan Konte Broward pou asire konfòmite ak Lwa sou Règleman
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de fason:

 Pa imèl: BCRSouth@broward.org
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Tout kòmantè ekri yo dwe resevwa anvan 4:30 P.M. dimanch 18 out 2024. Tout moun ki enterese envite pou fè kòmantè yo.

Tanpri note ke enfòmasyon pèsonèl moun ki soumèt kòmantè yo, si yo bay yo, yo ka pibliye nan dokiman anviwònman yo ki sikile piblikman. Yon manm piblik la ka chwazi eskli enfòmasyon pèsonèl yo nan kòmantè yo.

Yon kopi elektwonik Evalyasyon Anviwonman a disponib jiska 18 out 2024 sou sit entènèt pwojè a
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Enfòmasyon pou Kontakte:
Phil Schwab, P.E., FDOT Responsab
Pwojè Depatman Transpò Florid
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Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
Telefòn: (954) 777-4524
Nimewo gratis nan (866) 336-8435, ekst. 4524 Imèl: BCRSouth@broward.org
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Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
Telefòn: (954) 777-4524
Nimewo gratis nan (866) 336-8435, ekst. 4524 Imèl: BCRSouth@broward.org

Jie Bian, BCT Responsab Pwojè
Broward County Transit
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Suite 3100A Plantation, Florida 33324
Telefòn: (954) 357-8532
Imèl: BCRSouth@broward.org

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