MACAYA PRODUCTIONS - PROJECT:

 By: Jacques Camille

Our history as the first independent black republic proves that we were born for greatness. However, some precursory signs would have already anointed the North as the place to originate the glorious struggle of the republic for freedom, in the night of August thirteen and fourteen 1791. Indeed, the first experience of the aerostat took place in Cap-Français. The first Theater of the land was built there in year 1740, as well as the first Lodge in year 1745. What about the aftermath of 1803?

 Following the step of tradition, it becomes imperative for us to assume our vocation as a role model. This role includes the cultural aspect of heritage conservation. It requires hard work and faith. For, powerful tool of survival as it is, this heritage is frail, if not continuously fostered, adjusted, and materialized. I borrowed this from Edward B. Taylor, 1832-1917 who defined culture as the full range of learned human behavior patterns, constantly changing and that can be easily lost because it exists only in our minds.

 However, when our theaters burned during the years of colonization, it took a full century and President Dumarsais Estime to build “LE THEATRE DE VERDURE” in 1946.

Things became even more complicated in Haiti. There are many reasons for that. The main one is that everything is politic that does not let room in our brain to take advantage of the beauty and resources of our country. We do not take the time to understand what our culture is all about and make it the basis of our education. In the late fifties, for example, during the Papa Doc’s regime, hundreds from our best Haitian’s intelligence had to flee to countries like Congo, Canada, and United States, thanks to politic. Fortunately not everything is lost. We still have few goods citizens who are still interested in cultural developments.

 “Where Light Speaks, “ a book published by the photographer Carl Hibbert and writers such as Anthony Phelps, Sandy Noble and Sito Cave, came to justify Edward B. Taylor. Haiti is a nation exploding with expression. Deep below the flow of everyday life is a rhythm of celebration, a giving of memory to all of the senses. You will see it in the color of carnival or in the white of first communion; you will hear it in the familiar ring of the shoe-shiner’s bell as he roams the street for occasional hiring's, and in the laughter of storytelling by candlelight at night.

If it’s true that history repeats itself, Cap Haitian has to become again that “lighthouse to help the country going forward.” (Jean Fouchard.) Macaya Production is willing to help this becoming a reality. Its definion of culture referring also to an appreciation of literature, music, drama, dance, art, no surprise that it is inviting Haitians, especially from the North to join force toward a “Center for Cultural Education.”

Jacques Camille

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To be continued