The culture of Haiti is a blend of French, African, Spanish and native Taino cultures as a result of the interaction between these groups over the centuries. This is evident in the art, music, cuisine and religion of the country. The majority of the population of the country are Roman Catholics, with a small percentage following the Protestant faith. Voodoo is also prevalent on the island and in many ways it is very similar to that which is practiced in Africa, having been brought here by the African slaves in the 16th century.

Music

One of the traditional forms of music in the culture of Haiti is the Kompa. This music is very lively and in some aspects it is very similar to that of Cuba. It also has semblances of jazz. The instruments used in Kompa include guitars, African drums and saxophones. The songs are sung in the Creole language. Another type of music popular in Haiti is the Merengue, even though this is chiefly of Dominican Republic origin. This form of music has evolved from the introduction of ballroom dancing by the European landowners who settled on the island.

Rara music is processional music used during Lent, but has become associated with Carnival because of the similarities of the events. In this form of music, bands of musicians roam the streets during Lent performing religious ceremonies and rituals.

Cuisine

The French culture has influenced the cuisine of Haiti in the ingredients and preparation of the food, but there is a unique flavour to Haitian food. The same staples that were used by the Taino natives, maize, yam and cassava, are still an important part of the cuisine, but strong peppers are often used in the preparation. There are specific dishes that are unique to the country, such as jon-jon, which is a dish prepared with Haitian black mushrooms that turn the rice black. Calalou is another native dish made with crabmeat, salt pork, spinach, onion, okra and peppers. Barbancourt rum is considered to be the national drink of Haiti.

The People of Haiti

The people of Haiti are very poor. In the rural areas, they engage in subsistence farming and most families live in small cottages often without electricity or running water. Children go to work on the farms at an early age because they are needed to help the family earn a living.

There are deep divisions in Haitian society between those who are black and the mulattoes, or lighter skinned people. The mulattoes are generally more educated and have had more advantages over the centuries than the Black people, which has led to much dissent in the country.