The Horrors of Slavery: Haiti, Vodou and the Myth of the Cursed Nation By Myriam J. A. Chancy (T&T Review, November 2012 column) Drums used by a “rasin” or roots musical troupe are also traditional vodou drums, Jacmel 2012 ©MJA Chancy About a year ago, I taught an undergraduate course in Haitian Literature at the US university [...]
Trinidad & Tobago Review Column, October 2012 “Walking Sadness: Haitian Returns” (A Personal Reflection) by Myriam J. A. Chancy View from Route de L’Amitié, P-au-P-Jacmel, 2012@MJA Chancy “My house says to me, “Do not leave me, for here dwells your past.” And the road says to me, “Come and follow me, for I am your [...]
Trinidad & Tobago Review Column, Sept. 2012 What dreams are made of: Haiti Kanpé. Prince Luc, artist, Director, FOSAJ, w/Papier Maché Carnival Puppets, Jacmel 2012©MJA Chancy Who has never dreamed? Of a desired object, person, or state of being? Who has never dreamed? Who has never dared to dream? A week ago today, [...]
Axes of Independence or, “What’s so great about being Haitian, anyway?” Column published in the Trinidad & Tobago Review, August 6, 2012, pp. 16-17 (centerfold) By Myriam J. A. Chancy When I first arrived at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad, it was to be greeted with a banner announcing to visitors the “golden jubilee” celebration [...]
This video represents the thoughts and ideas of the (women) artists of the Sant Atizana Matenwa in La Gonav, Haiti, as related to love and forgiveness in their working collective (“konbit”). This is part of a collaborative venture with the Fetzer Instiute. Please watch & share!
This column appeared in the Trinidad & Tobago Review, July 2012 (pp. 24-25) – this is the first of a monthly running by-line column in the T&T Review. Nou Bouké!!! (We’re Tired) Photo: “Nou bouke!!!” – Street graffiti, Port-au-Prince, 2011 [...]
I had the great pleasure of appearing on Lyonel Trouillot’s Radio Kiskeya show, “Rencontres,” 8/17/12 in Port-au-Prince. Here is the link (starts at :50s; apprx. 24 mn. long): http://f.cl.ly/items/1O3J270E1t3A0N0F450V/17_08_12%2009_03.m4a
Dancing Words by Myriam J. A. Chancy [previously published in Calabash 5:1 (Summer/Fall 2008)] Growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, at a time when the primadonna Evelyn Hart was at the height of her career with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company, I, like many others, wanted to grow up to be just [...]
Myriam J. A. Chancy [This essay appears in Vandal Literary Journal 2:1 (Fall 2011)] The Aftermath Une minute…Les gens parlent de près d’une minute! Je n’ai pas perçu le temps…Je n’étais pas là! Non, je n’ai rien vu à Port-au-Prince! [One minute…The people say it lasted almost a minute! I [...]
A Marshall Plan for a Haiti at Peace: UN Service Personnel in the J/P Camp, Pétion-Ville, August 2011 © MJA Chancy To Continue or End the Legacy of the Revolution Myriam J. A. Chancy In the weeks following the grand earthquake of January 12, 2010, what some Haitians have termed “goulougoulou” to describe [...]