To the people of Haiti: Calling the Ancestors

I’m from Dominica, a Caribbean island that shares the French Creole language and other aspects of culture, including music and dance, with Haiti. While there are differences in the way Creole is spoken, Haitians & the people of Dominica communicate with each other with no difficulty.

The title of the piece is in reference to African spiritual beliefs transmitted beyond slavery. Many afro Caribbean people believe that relatives who die before us remain accessible in the spirit world.

Knowing of the role that culture has played in the Haitian resistance movement and the contribution of the drum to the resilience of the Haitian people, I dedicate this drumming piece to Haiti and its people in memory of those who’ve gone before (ancestors) and a celebration of the Haitian peoples resilience & hope. Haiti will rise again to take its place in history.