Culture
Dance
Merengue is the national dance of Haiti; however, there is some controversy regarding its origins. Of the dance, one story alleges it originated with slaves who were chained together and, of necessity, were forced to drag one leg as they cut sugar to the beat of the drums; however, the most popular story relates that a great hero of the revolution who had been crippled in one leg was welcomed home with a victory celebration. It was known that he loved to dance but all he could do now, was step with one leg and drag the other to close. The imagery of both stories is important; both describe stepping side and dragging the other leg to close both.
Music
The music of Haiti is easily distinguished from other styles. It includes:
- Kompa
- Twobadou
- Rasin
- Kadans
- Caribbean Soca and merengue from the Dominican Republic
- Zouk, a combination of Haitian kompa and French music in the French Antilles
Some Haitian popular musicians such as T-Vice and Carimi perform regularly in the United States and Québec. Sweet Micky is unarguably one of the greatest legends of Kompa music, he is called the President of Kompa. The most successful and well known Haitian artist of this era is Wyclef Jean, who is internationally recognised for being one of the first Haitian artists to find commercial success.
Religion
Roman Catholicism is the state religion, which the majority of the population practices. An estimated 20% of the population practices Protestantism. Protestant churches of numerical strength are Assemblées de Dieu, the Convention Baptiste d'Haïti, the Seventh-day Adventists, the Church of God, the Church of the Nazarene, the Église Episcopale d'Haïti and the Mission Evangelique Baptiste du Sud-Haïti.
A small percentage of the population in Haiti also practice the religion of Vodou or Voodoo, whether exclusively or alongside their Roman Catholic observances. Some of Haiti's traditions and artistic styles reflect a unique syncretism, or combination, of Roman Catholicism and Vodou.
