Websder Corneille, Haitian journalist and lecturer at Indiana University, focused on the deep connection between Haiti’s culture and its language during his lecture Thursday night.
This lecture was held by the Iowa State Lecture Series in collaboration with Student Government and the Office of the Provost.
“Each year, the Lecture Series welcomes speakers and guests from across the country and around the world,” according to the Iowa State Lecture Series website.
To begin the lecture, Corneille spoke about how culture and language elements define Haiti’s identity, especially during difficult times. His words reflected the struggles and resilience of the Haitian people throughout their history.
“We used to say, when everything’s gone, we only have the culture to represent Haiti,” Corneille said.
Corneille went on to explain how this idea demonstrates how important culture is to the people of Haiti. Even when they lose so much, culture is what is left behind, helping them stand strong. Corneille’s statement reminded the audience that Haiti’s culture has always been a symbol of endurance.
“As Haitians, we have a rich heritage of oral tradition and storytelling, with proverbs passed down through generations holding deep wisdom and truths about our identity,” according to The Haitian Times website. “Some may be familiar, such as ‘Dèyè mòn gen mòn,’ meaning ‘Behind the mountains, there are more mountains,’ speaking to our resilience in overcoming challenges.”
Corneille also discussed the roots of Haitian Creole.
“Haitian Creole came mostly from African languages,” Cornielle said.
This mix of African languages and French created a new language that became a key part of Haitian identity. Cornielle explained that Creole, born from a history of slavery and colonization, is not just a way of speaking but a reminder of the people’s strength.
In discussing Haiti’s independence, Corneille paid tribute to Jean-Jacques Dessalines.
“This guy was the founder of the nation of Haiti,” Corneille said. “Today is a very sad day in the country because he was assassinated on Oct. 17, 1806.”
Dessalines’ assassination marked a tragic day in Haiti’s history, a reminder of the sacrifices made for the country’s freedom.
Corneille pointed out that, despite the importance of Creole, French was the dominant language after independence.
“You will see that, throughout the 19th century, the dominated language will be French,” Corneille said.
French was used by the elite, while Creole was spoken by the masses. This division in language also created divisions in society.
“The first constitution written during the independence was in French,” Corneille said, further illustrating how French dominated Haiti’s official systems. Even though most of the population spoke Creole, French was the language of power and governance.
Corneille concluded his lecture by talking about education.
“If you had educated the students in Haitian Creole, you’re gonna prevent them from being knowledgeable people,” Corneille said. “That was the saying throughout the early 19th century, or major part of the 19th century.”
This statement made by Corneille shows how Creole was unfairly seen as less valuable and how French was linked to knowledge and success.
Corneille’s lecture made it clear that Haiti’s language and culture are powerful symbols of the country’s past and present.
For more information on the Iowa State Lecture Series, visit their website.
