Tourism - Haiti Music Video

Haitian-African folk singer, Altiery Dorival, is known as a twoubadou (troubadour) musician. He sings in a raspy tenor voice, accompanying himself on Haitian banjo, similar to the American banjo.

Dorival's image is as a man of the people, singing about the lives of Haiti's poor masses, living their lives of grinding poverty with grace and an unsinkable spirit. But he can also play the role of bon vivant, decked out in a white suit and Panama hat.

The twoubadou tradition, in which Altiery Dorival sings and plays, has existed in Haiti for over half a century. Brought to Haiti's shores from Cuba at the start of the 20th century, Haitians soon claimed the music as its own. Twoubadou music expresses the bitter sweetness of peasant life, rife with earthy and risqué themes. Twoubadou singers, such as Dorival, have been and still are the voice of the people.

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The colorful Caribbean country of Haiti held one of its most important festivals for the year, the Carnival of Flowers, during the last weekend of July. It was generally a success for the Martelly administration in its effort to have a less violent and safer, more secure festival.

In the first day of the festival, thousands and thousands of people crowded the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince to participate in the celebration. It was marked lively colors of costume and festive sounds of music. About 1,500 singers, dancers, and band members made the streets come to life, including the parade of queens in cars and thirteen music floats. The first day of the Carnival of Flowers lasted until three o'clock in the morning when most of the organizers and participants are preparing for the second day of the carnival.

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