NDEWO – Onè/Réspè is what we say in Haiti. You welcome me with open heart, I shall enter
with openheart. Before I address you all today, I carry the heavy heart of Haitian folklore that
dreams of “AfrikGinen — Lòt Bò Dlo”- our ancestral Africa—acrossthe sea, a place said to be
reached only in death. Yet here I stand, alive on African soil, a privilege denied to many of my
people. We remember the 300,000 lives lost in Haiti’s earthquake in 2010; may their spirits
feel at home among us now. Our ancestors were forced from thisland without consent, and
today, we find ourselves needing permission to return. As we seek visas from distant
governments andnavigatethe absence of directflights, my deepest hope is for every Haitian
to experience this return—not as a final rest but as a living reunion.
Excellencies, traditional chiefs, all protocols observed, Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed
leaders, and my cherished brothers and sisters of Africa,
Today, I stand before you in the heart of Igbo land, where the pulse of our great continent
beats with undying strength and enduring unity. Here, on this sacred ground infused with
centuries of wisdom and courage, our gathering transcends mere ceremony. We are here,
under the boundless African sky, to reclaim a shared heritage, to heal the wounds of forced
displacement, and to forge a future resplendent with promise.
Over 4 centuries have passed since the sons and daughters of Africa, torn from this vibrant
continent, found themselves in the embrace of the Caribbean. It was not a gentle embrace,
but one of iron chains and brutal servitude. Yet, in the hills of Haiti, the spirit of Africa refused
to die.
Those forced into slavery, treated as objects to be bought and sold, faced the cannons of the
world’s most formidable armies. First it was Spain, then England and finally France. The army
of Napoleon, a dozen years before its defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, was routed by an army
of enslaved Africans under the leadership of two great sons of Africa, Toussaint Louverture
and Jean-Jacques Dessalines. – The sons of Africa prevailed. Africa prevailed. We prevailed.
On the first dawn of 1804, Haiti rose, a free nation, the first black republic in the world,
marking a victory not just for its people but for Africans and oppressed people everywhere, a
beacon of hope and a testament to the unquenchable fire of freedom that burns in every
African heart. But Haiti’s struggle was not without cost. The audacity to be free came with a
price– from the oppressive independence debt forced upon it, through to foreign occupations
and protracted sanctions- A price we are still paying to this day.
In Haiti, the palm tree rises on our flag—a towering symbol of triumph and resilience. It is a
sacred echo of the palms that grace this land, a symbol woven into the fabric of Igbo culture,
representing victory, peace, and the eternal connection between us. These trees are not mere
vegetation; they are the spiritual links that bind the Caribbean to Africa, whispering through
the winds that our souls are one.
The narrative of Haiti, just like that of Africa, has too often been dictated by those who do
not know our heart. It has been depicted again and again by certain news media in the dull
colours and by the broad brushstrokes of strife. It is true that the country has been going
through a rough patch, particularly after the cowardly assassination of President Jovenel
Moise, but today, I call on you to see through that veil of distortion. See Haiti in a wider
context for what it truly is—a reservoir of untapped potential, a crucible of rich culture, a
wellspring of indomitable spirit.
We are not the impoverished nation the world believes us to be; we are a piece of Africa,
resilient and vibrant, with open arms that reach across the Atlantic, yearning for home.
Just as South Africa shattered the chains of apartheid, Rwanda transcended the scars of
division, so too must we recognize and resist the manipulative forcesthatseek to cutthe ties
that bindus.Wemustrejectthese forcesunequivocally andreclaim
our narrative. Haiti is not a story of despair but a story of
immense strength, a testament to the enduring spirit of Africa itself.
Today, I summon the leaders, the visionaries, the change- makers gathered here: This is our
clarion call to all who will listen. We need to forge partnerships that transcend the
superficiality of aid. It’s time to invest in sustainable futures that respect our sovereignty and
celebrate our cultural legacies. Let Technology be our bridge and fair trade our path to
mutual prosperity.
To the business magnates present, I implore you to look to Haiti not just with sympathy but
with strategic interest. Bring yourexpertise,yourresources, andyourrespect, andtogether,
let us cultivate a future where the children of Haiti can stand
on equal footing with the children of Africa and with children globally.
I know I’m not the first to say this but I simply must repeat it. I have a dream. I dream of our
educators and innovators caught up together in a grand alliance of learning and wisdom, with
Port-au-Prince in partnership with Lagos, Cap Haitien with Cape Town, Les Cayes with Cairo,
and our universities transformed into lighthouses of knowledge and innovation that guide
the world.
And to every soul listening to my voice, embrace the spirit of Ubuntu—I am because we are.
We are not dissimilar peoples; we are one Africa, mighty and unbroken. Letthe world witness
that Africa’s embrace is wide enough to gather all her children, from the shores of the
Caribbean to the peaks of Kilimanjaro.
Let us be the generation that bends the arc of history toward unity. Let us declare with one
voice, « Yes, we can. » Yes, we can craft a thriving Haiti within a flourishing Africa. Yes, we can
dispel the shadows cast by our troubled pasts. And yes, we will stride side by side, as equals,
as relatives, into the dawn of an era marked by our collective strength and shared destiny.
Now,let us march toward that hopeful horizon together. Let us sing a chorus that echoes from
the mountains of Haiti to the plains of the Serengeti. Let us carry the torch that was lit in
1804, not just for Haiti but for all of Africa. Let us stand united and declare, once and for all,
that we are one people,from the Nile to the Niger, from the Cape to the Caribbean.
Together, let us turn the challenges we face into the bridges that connect us. Let us transform
the energy of our struggles into the strength of our unity. Let us not just dream of returning
to the soil of our ancestors; let us make it a reality. Let this day be remembered not as a
moment ofspeeches, but as the day when mother Africa, in all her glory, extended her arms
to reach across the ocean and brought her children home.
Thank you, andmay ourunitybring fortha future where every African, anywhere in the world,
can say with pride, « I am home”.