Afro-Haitians facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 10,114,378 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Haiti |
|
| Languages | |
| French · Haitian Creole | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (predominantly Roman Catholicism), Haitian Vodou | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| European Haitians · other Afro-Caribbeans |
Afro-Haitians are people from Haiti who have ancestors from sub-Saharan Africa. They are the largest group of people in Haiti. They are also the biggest group in the wider Caribbean region, along with other Afro-Caribbean people.
Most Afro-Haitians are descendants of enslaved Africans. These people were brought to the island by the Spanish Empire and the Kingdom of France. They were forced to work on large farms called plantations. Since the Haitian Revolution, Afro-Haitians have been the main group in the country. In the early 2000s, about 95% of Haiti's population was Afro-Haitian. The other 5% includes people of mixed African and European background, and smaller groups from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Contents
History of Afro-Haitians
The island of Hispaniola was first home to the Taino, Arawak, and Ciboney people. In 1492, explorer Christopher Columbus arrived. He named the island La Isla Española, which became Hispaniola. Sadly, many native people died from European diseases and hard work.
Later, the Spanish left the island. The French then brought many enslaved Africans to grow crops. These crops included coffee, cacao, indigo, and cotton. France had many colonies in the Caribbean. Slavery helped these colonies produce sugar, coffee, and cotton. The most important French colony was Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). It had about 500,000 enslaved people. There were also about 32,000 white people and 28,000 free Black people. Some free Black people even owned enslaved people in Haiti.
Life for enslaved people in Saint-Domingue was very difficult. There was a lot of suffering and violence. To keep the plantations running, French slaveholders brought about 800,000 Africans to the colony.
Where Afro-Haitians Came From
The African people brought to Haiti came from many different areas. These areas stretched from Senegal in West Africa to the Congo in Central Africa. Most came from West Africa. A large number also came from Central Africa.
Some groups included people from the former Kongo kingdom and the Ewe and Yoruba from Benin and Togo. Others came from Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Angola, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana. Some even came from Southeast Africa, like the Bara people from Madagascar.
Haitian culture is strongly linked to West African culture. For example, Haitian Vodou mostly comes from the original West African Vodun of Benin. The Haitian Creole language, which is based on French, also has words from African languages like the Fon language.
During the Haitian Revolution, many white people left Haiti. At that time, most Black people in Haiti were born in Africa. They had little or no European ancestry. This was because enslaved Africans often had short lives in colonial Haiti. France kept bringing thousands of Africans each year to replace them. By 1790, there were almost 600,000 enslaved people. This meant there were about 20 enslaved people for every white person.
Haiti's Population
Haiti has about 250 people per square kilometer. However, most people live in cities, along the coast, and in valleys. In 2018, the United Nations estimated Haiti's population was about 11 million. Half of the people were under 20 years old. The first official count in 1950 showed a population of 3.1 million.
According to The World Factbook, 95% of Haitians are mainly of African descent. The other 5% are mostly of mixed-race and European background. There are also smaller groups of other ethnicities.
Haitian Culture
Haiti's culture, religion, and social life are a mix of French and African traditions. These African traditions mainly come from the Dahomey-Nigerian region. A small but important cultural practice in Haiti is Haitian Vodou. This religion likely started in Benin. However, it also has strong influences from the Congo in Central Africa. Many African nations are part of its ceremonies.
An often overlooked but important influence comes from the Taino people. They were the native people of Hispaniola. The Tainos influenced Haitian Vodou, especially a group called the Petro cult. This group has no direct match in Africa. It involves worshipping spirits called loa. It also includes ideas from Native American folklore, like zemis. The northern part of Haiti is very much influenced by Congo practices. These are often called Rites Congo or Lemba. In the south, the Congo influence is called Petwo (Petro). Many loa spirits, like Basimbi and Lemba, are from the Congo.
Some traditional practices, like having more than one spouse, exist alongside Catholic marriages. Haitian dances and some forms of fun are linked to African activities. The way beans are prepared is similar to styles in Western Africa. Popular stories keep fables and other forms that are told in the local language. Economic activities are like those in Western culture. Clothing tends to be European, but the scarf women wear over their heads is common in West Africa.
Two languages are spoken in Haiti. French is taught in schools and known by about 42% of the population. However, only a smaller number of Black and mixed-race people speak it, mostly in Port-au-Prince and other cities. Haitian Creole is spoken all over the country. It has roots in French, Spanish, Taino, Portuguese, English, and African languages. It has different forms in different regions and is used a lot in rural areas.
Haitian music is greatly influenced by rhythms that came from Africa with the enslaved people. Two of these rhythms, "harbour" and "Congo," come directly from Africa. A third rhythm, "petro," developed on the island during colonial times. All these rhythms are used in Vodou ceremonies. These rhythms led to a music style called rasin. In rasin, percussion instruments are the most important. Even though it's linked to religion, it has become a popular type of folk music.
Another music style is twoubadou. This music comes from people playing instruments they hold in their hands. It is still popular today. Currently, the most common music in Haiti is the Compas genre. It is a bit softer than merengue. It mixes Congo rhythms with European and Caribbean influences. Konpa is the most modern version of this rhythm.
Notable People
- Dutherson Clerveaux
- Hannes Delcroix
- Samuel Dalembert
- Mikaël Cantave
- Wyclef
- Fabrice Noël
- Jhondly van der Meer
See also
In Spanish: Afrohaitianos para niños
- Marabou
- Haitian emigration
- Haitians
- Haitian Revolution
- Slavery in Haiti
- Afro-Dominicans
- Afro-Latin Americans
- Afro-Caribbean
- African diaspora
- History of West Africa
- Black people
- White Haitians
- French Haitians
- Mulatto Haitians
