CULTURE
Haiti's cultural life displays
variety and originality and shows authentic achievements in many
areas. Artists have drawn from the vitality of the people and
the rich folklife to create internationally recognized works of
art. Port-au-Prince is the centre of cultural and intellectual
life, and the nation's most important museums, libraries, and
entertainment facilities are located there.
Haitian culture fuses African,
French, and West Indian elements. Formerly a social divider, the
Creole language is now being used in attempts to define a national
culture. The language is used in literature, drama, music, dance,
and some governmental functions. Haitian works of art are enjoying
increasing worldwide recognition. The country has several outstanding
libraries. The collection of the Brothers of Saint Louis de Gonzague
(1912), the National Archives (1860), and the Bibliothèque
Nationale (1940), all located in Port-au-Prince, contain rare
works that date from the colonial period. Also devoted to Haitian
history is the National Museum (1983), located in Port-au-Prince.
Haitian paintings have received
attention since the 1940s, when a school of “naive”
or “primitive” artists developed in Port-au-Prince
and Cap-Haïtien. The works of the earlier and more famous
artists are exhibited in major galleries in the United States
and France. Primitive influence is also evident in such handicrafts
as wood carvings and tapestries, which are manufactured in Haiti
but sold throughout the Caribbean.
