Afro-Haitian facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 10,114,378 | |
| Languages | |
| French · Haitian Creole | |
| Religion | |
| Catholicism · Haitian Vodou | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Haitians · West/Central Africans · Afro-Argentines · Afro-Caribbeans · Afro-Chileans · Afro-Costa Ricans · Afro-Cubans · Afro-Dominicans (Dominican Republic) · Afro-Ecuadorians · Afro-Jamaicans · Afro-Latin Americans · Afro-Mexicans · Afro-Peruvians · Afro-Puerto Ricans · Afro-Trinidadians and Tobagonians · Afro-Uruguayans · Creoles · Louisiana Creoles · African-American people |
Afro-Haitians are people from Haiti whose families originally came from Africa. Most Afro-Haitians are descendants of West Africans who were forced into slavery. These people were brought to Haiti to work on large farms called plantations, mainly growing sugar cane.
Today, most people in Haiti (about 90%) have African roots. Some Haitians (about 25-30%) have a mixed background, meaning their families include both African and other ancestries.
Where Did They Come From?
Haiti, like many places in the Americas, received people from all over West and Central Africa during the time of slavery. Even though enslaved people came from many different parts of Africa, some groups were more common.
Many came from the Kongo region in Central Africa. Others were from the Ewe and Fon tribes, which are found in modern-day Benin and Togo. There were also many Igbo people from Nigeria.
Haitian Culture
The influence of African cultures is very strong in Haiti.
Haitian Vodou
Haitian Vodou is a spiritual tradition that came from the Fon people of Benin. When these people were brought to Haiti as slaves, they kept their traditions alive. Even after more than 300 years away from their homeland, these beliefs and practices are still an important part of Haitian culture today.
Language
The language spoken by most Haitians, Haitian Creole, also shows strong African influences. It is based on French, but many of its sounds, words, and how sentences are put together come from African languages. You can hear many words of African origin in everyday conversations.
Food and Music
Haitian food often has African roots, even in the names of the dishes. Haitian music is full of African rhythms and instruments. It also uses a style called call and response, where a leader sings a line and a group sings back. Many Haitian songs have African vocal styles.
See also
In Spanish: Afrohaitianos para niños
