Photographer Journal: culture

Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts

Saturday, February 12, 2022

The vaksen plays a repeating rhythm

“The vaksen: All rara music centers around a large set of cylindrical bamboo trumpets called vaksen. These impressive woodwind instruments may also be made of metal, making them more boisterous brass instruments. The vaksen plays a repeating rhythm in a monotonous, trance-like way, generally at a tempo fast enough to move one’s body to“ haitianmusic.net -

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Colorful Celebrations

“In Haitian tradition, rara, a brilliant and colorful music festival, takes place throughout this holy week. This genre is said to have begun in the 1700s, most likely in the latter part of the century, when French colonization was still strong but African-Haitian sugar plantation workers were riling up. In order to gain independence, Haitian slaves fought literally (during the Haitian Revolution) and culturally (through new art, music, and dance forms)”haitianmusic.net

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Rara Celebrations

Rara celebrations generally begin on Ash Wednesday and end at Easter Weekend. During rara, revellers dance and march in the street while the band plays. Each band has their own rhythm that defines them even while marching in the dark.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Haiti's Culture

‘Haiti has a unique history for many reasons, a facet which contributes to its rich and dynamic culture compared to other Caribbean nations. The culture of Haiti has its roots in West Africa, and to this day many of its inhabitants feel more aligned to Africa than they do to the Caribbean or Americas.’ iexplore.com

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Trees are the earth's lifeblood and ancient cultures were wise to recognize this

A man and his wife sit under a mapou tree while participating in a vodou celebration in Souvenance, Gonaives. Trees are the earth's lifeblood and ancient cultures were wise to recognize this. To this day, many indegenous cultures worship trees or one specific tree."These people will never be conquered again, they will be exploited, they will be downtrodden, they will be impoverished - but you can tell not a single Haitian walks around with his head down... They're more human than the people who enslaved them. They were better than their masters, able to live in another realm. There's no other more articulate response to oppression than that. And that's why Vodou is here - because Vodou is the soul of the Haitian people" Ira lowenthal

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Intimate portraits of Vodou celebration in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

Fête Gede, or “Festival of the Dead,” is one of the most important celebrations in the Voudou religious calendar. On the 1st and second day of November, gédé celebrations take over The main cemetery in Port-Au-Prince, and elsewhere in Haiti. Voodoo practitioners come in droves to honor Baron Samedi and layout offerings such as candles, flowers, food, and rum mixed with hot pepper. It is a time when vodouizants celebrate the ancestral dead.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

They are always so welcoming in Souvenance, Gonaives

Voodoo celebration in Souvenance begins on Good Friday and continues for a week. Every year hundreds of people assemble in this tiny village. It is one of the holiest pilgrimages for believers in voodoo. Souvenance is located between Gonaïves and Cap-Haïtien, about 20km north of Gonaïves.Voodoo was brought to Haiti by slaves from West Africa but did not become a recognized religion by the Caribbean country until the 1960s.

Friday, December 22, 2017

Official funeral in Haiti to bid farewell to folk singer Manno Charlemagne

Funeral service for folk singer and activist Joseph Emmanuel “Manno” Charlemagne at a public Mass on the Champ de Mars in Port-au-Prince Dec. 22, 2017. - His death at 69 on Sunday came after multiple stints in exile, many assassination attempts and a star-studded international campaign by the late filmmaker Jonathan Demme to free him from the Argentine Embassy where he sought haven after a military coup toppled Haiti’s first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide - Jacqueline Charles/Miami herald

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article189897489.html#storylink=cpy

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Vox Sambou, key figure on the progressive front of the Rap Kreyòl movement

It's been a couple of months the last time I photographed the taping of this show which has resumed. Vox Sambou, The Montreal-based MC, who has been called "the eternal voice of Haiti" performing at Boycott in Kenscoff, Haiti

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Saut-D'Eau, Ville Bonheur

I didn't know what I was going to find in Saut-D'Eau that hasn't already been shown. This very popular place attracts thousands of Haitian visitors yearly who come on a religious pilgrimage, and over the years has been widely photographed by both local and foreign photographers. On the way up to the water fall, we drove past the woman I photographed bathing in the water. When I saw her again, about an hour later, she was climbing to the fall holding a wooden dish of leaves and flowers. There was something about her composure, definitely not a first-timer, she gracefully and with a lot of ease carefully walked on the wet rocks to get closer to the water. She took off her bra and let the water of the fall wash over her body, then turned and before covering herself she gestured toward another pilgrim in the water. Whatever her favors from the Virgin Mary or Ezulie, I hope they were granted. [ Click on the link to read Jean Euphele Milcé s Gouter Aux Voyages article ]

Friday, March 25, 2016

Cockfighting ring in Jeremie, Grand-Anse

Haiti is one of the few countries in the world where cockfighting is still legal. I am not sure when and if stiff laws regarding cruelty to animals, illegal animal fighting, ect., in the US and elsewhere - could be implemented down here. Cockfighting is a widely popular pastime throughout the Country, and it attracts a big crowd, mostly men who also gamble. On a Sunday afternoon, about a mile from where I was staying in Jeremie, my guide pointed out there was a (gaguere) down the road and I should have a look. I didn't go inside the arena where the fight was being held, it has already been photographed, just google cockfighting - instead I was looking for something up close and personal.The guy in the photo happens to be friends with my guide and he reluctantly accepted. I am happy with what I captured.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

I still go out and make images of guede in Port-Au-Prince

Annually Haitians flow in the Port-Au-Prince National cemetery and throughout the country to celebrate day of the dead.Voodoo practitioners pay tribute to Baron Samedi, known as the gatekeeper of the cemetery.The celebration also involves ceremonies to honor their ancestors. I usually photograph this religious holiday and the ideal place to be is at Port-Au-Prince National Cemetery.Throng of foreign photographers flocking Baron Samedi at the cemetery have died down over the years.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Haiti's beauty and culture is what now inspire me

Annually Haitians flow in the Port-Au-Prince National cemetery to celebrate day of the dead.Voodoo practitioners pay tribute to Baron Samedi, known as the gatekeeper of the cemetery.The celebration also involves ceremonies to honor their ancestors.