2024-01-05 07:08:41
Haitian students from Senghor University in Alexandria, Egypt celebrated 220 years of Haiti’s independence with students from various countries on the African continent, including Benin. Exchanges and debates around the history of Haiti’s independence and sharing of “Joumou” soup were the highlights of the event.
To mark the 220th anniversary of Haiti’s independence, Haitian students from the 19th promotion of Senghor University in Alexandria organized on Monday, January 1, 2024, a day of reflection and sharing of giraumon soup, the traditional dish. of Haiti’s Independence Day prepared and shared both in rural areas and cities throughout the country.
In a friendly and fraternity atmosphere, the students invited to this celebration learned about the national anthem of Haiti which is the Dessalinienne; strong moments which led to the independence of Haiti including the general uprising of slaves on the night of August 14, 1791 known as the Bois-Caïman ceremony and the battle of Vertières of November 18, 1803; they also took the time to discuss the symbolism of “Joumou” soup, a dish reflecting social cohesion, fraternity and revolution because it was forbidden to slaves and reserved for colonists during the era of colonization. All topped off by tasting the soup.
Walner Olivier, Haitian student in the Culture department at Senghor University, emphasized the tradition which encourages the consumption of the soup by all Haitians in Haiti and abroad on January 1 of each year; also on the consecration of the soup by UNESCO as an intangible heritage of humanity since December 2021.
“Joumou soup is no longer the property of Haiti or Haitians. It now belongs to humanity.” , he said.
For his part, Erroce Ezechiel Ekundayo Yanclo, a representative of the Beninese community and project management student, did not hide his satisfaction. “This good time shared together really made us happy. Thank you very much to the Haitian community,” he expressed.
Furthermore, Johnson Phycien, Haitian student in governance and public management, who motivated the entire Haitian community to carry out the activity, said he was satisfied with this first and intends to plan others with the Haitian community during the dates important concerning Haiti.
“Thank you for giving us the honor of being here today. This activity, our very first, aims to strengthen our ties with students, particularly the Beninese with whom Haiti has historical, cultural and spiritual ties,” he maintained.
Taking part in the celebration were master’s students in development at Senghor University in Alexandria from Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Cameroon, Mali, Djibouti, Madagascar and Senegal.
James Nonant
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