Sarodj By Maite Makeup Company

Sarodj Bertin (Miss Haiti 2010) has a limited edition collection with Maite Makeup Company.
I like that she's branching out and taking advantage of her opportunities. For that I say go Sarodj!

The company:
Launched in May 2012. Founders are Dominican makeup artists Maite Rivera and Luisa Mendez

 Maite Make Up Company includes a full line of highly pigmented mineral makeup with high-end ingredients, environmentally friendly packaging and labeling. It is also FDA approved and are not tested on animals, gentle on sensitive skin and hypoallergenic.

Now on to the makeup...
There's an eyeshadow quad "Jacmel" $20
Blush "Jeremie" $14
and lipstick " I love Haiti" $ 10

yeah... pa sezi non mkonnen se Ayisyen nou ye!!! lol

I'm wondering how much say she had in choosing the colors and how did the names come about? The eyeshadow quad for example doesn't quite remind me of Jacmel...
With that said, I don't know how long this collection is going to be available but I'm contemplating gifting myself "I love Haiti" for my upcoming birthday because well I do love Haiti lol and it looks like a color I would enjoy. I've never gotten anything from Maite before (never even heard of them) but their reviews seem good. With shipping, this is going to be the most expensive lipstick I've ever bought so I will definitely come back and review it sometime next month if I get it. Maybe I'll even get one for a giveaway if I like it so stay tuned!

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ENJOY Haiti dans les Jeux Olympiques 2012

As an athlète, I enjoy watching the olympics. It's great to see the world coming together (sort of) for great competition. Although there's always that one person who ruins or tries to ruin it for everybody (like the guy who threw the bottle onto the track as Usain Bolt was about to defend his title); that's besides the point. The olympics fosters a sense of unity in people/within a country. For example, I came across this article that a few years back when Usain Bolt won his race, there were zero killings in Jamaica and basically every Jamaican was celebrating his victory.

 Well this blog isn't "A La Jamaïquainne" or "A La Olympienne" so let me bring it back "A l'Haitienne". I was very excited to find that Haiti would have five great athletes representing us this year. I was doing a little Haiti in the Olympics research. I came across what seems to be a blog and some very ignorant soul wrote the following under the title "The country's history in six words"..."Slave rebellion, poverty, natural disasters ... Wyclef!" Serieusement!? I'm going to give the person the benefit of the doubt that they were slightly trying to "be funny". Now I'm switching to Creole. Oui slave rebellion, et what about "Première nation noire qui avoir sa propre indépendance"? Genyen moun ki frekan oui. Mwen ta di anpil lot bagay, men there's no need. Parce que, all that one needs to do is go to google and type in "La Perle des Antilles" and see what country is attached to that title.

 Lastly, mwen ta renmen ankouraje tout Ayisyen (whatever percentage Haitian you may be, if you have the least bit of interest or love for Haiti), pou nou aprann histoire nou. Nou genyen anpil to be proud of. 1 last thing, ce Jeudi, soutenir ou regarder Samyr Laine (triple jumper) aux Jeux Olympiques 2012. M'ap kite nou avek bel ti chant sa...ENJOY!! (:

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Featured: Kwase le 8

This is one of my favorite music videos. The song is called Kwase le 8 and the group is ZatRap.  I think they capture Haitian beauty very well. It's also a catchy song that fuses Troubadour style with rap kreyol. I love the song (and Zatrap)

All pictures are stills from the video. Watch the video to see these scenes :)

I think this girl is absolutely gorge.  I wanna be like this next time I go to Haiti lol

Here's the video

Zatrap kwaze le 8-

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Moso Manman

Grandma, Me, Mom, and my sis

In honor of Haitian Mother's Day today I wanted to post a couple of songs about mothers. These are some of my favorite songs to listen to because I love my beautiful manman cherie to pieces.
Mothers are so important. Especially in a country like Haiti where the mother is basically the heart of the family. Most Haitian mothers that I know are like super heroes.



 I appreciate fathers and give them props for taking care of their families but everybody that has had a mother, especially one who has made so many sacrifices for her children like mine knows that they are indispensable.
So to every mother out there I say Bonne Fete Manman!
Show love to the mothers in your life everyday and share some of these songs with them sometime. They will appreciate it.

The song that I know the best out of all of them is Emeline Michel's "Moso Manman"

Old School Manman-

 Tropicana

Herold Christophe

Some of my favorite newer manman Songs

Beethova Obas

Freedom- Manman

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Haitian Heritage month feature: Catherine Flon

There are two different versions of the incidents leading to the creation of the Haitian flag. It really doesn't matter which version is more truth than folktale because in the end, the General Jean Jacques Dessalines ripped the white out of the red white and blue French flag (like the BOSS that he was) and handed the remaining red and blue bands to this awesome lady by the name of Catherine Flon.

 She was Dessalines's goddaughter and a nurse who gave her service to the rebellion and ultimately ended up sewing the Haitian flag. She is a reminder that all talents and willingness can be used for a good cause. Having her sew the first Haitian flag helped give the Haitians their identity in battle and showed their seriousness about fighting for their independence.

Here she is on the 10 gourdes Haitian banknote!

P.S. May is Haitian Heritage Month in the diaspora because there are a lot of celebrations during this month.  Haitian Flag on May 18 is the most celebrated with parades and all kinds of fun a l'Haitienne style. Stay tuned for the next posts and happy Haitian Heritage Month!

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Happy Haitian Flag Day!

It's May 18th, yeah!!!
 As an Haitian, I'm pretty excited whenever this day comes around, because it is Haitian Flag Day. Our flag is now 209 years old. It was created in 1803, adopted in 1820 and formalized in 1843.

That beautiful bi-color flag: blue and red that you are seeing was once the same color as France's: blue, white and red. The fact  that the Haitian nation was  carrying a French flag was presented by the press at the time as an independent nation. The great chiefs of the Haitian army, Alexandre Petion and Jean Jacques Dessalines ,were not happy about that. So, they decided to confront the French army which unfortunately lost the fight. Now, Dessalines ripped the white stripe of the previous flag and joined the blue and the the red together. This is how our beautiful flag was made. I am very proud of that and i think all Haitians feel the same. Happy Flag Day!!!

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Yohann Dore: Haitian Rock Star

I can't say that I'm a rock music fan but when I heard  the song "Let Go" by Yohann, I definitely ended up liking it . Yohann is Haiti's resident Rock Star. He's a unexpected discovery for me.
So who is Yohann?

Name: Yohann Dore
 Born:  Petion Ville Haiti February 12 1989
Story: Surrounded by music from an early age because of his father (Joe Dore)'s influence
Has been seriously making music since the age of 16
His preferred genre of music has always been Rock, hence why he has chosen to make "Rock Kreyol" music

There's something to be said about marching to the sound of your own music, which he definitely does. Added to the fact that he's fairly young and creative makes him cool in a "A l'Haitienne" way to me.
His album "Ayiti Men Rock"  is coming out at the end of this month. Support if you like it. It's definitely different. I'm looking forward to seeing where this movement goes!

Here's "Let Go" from 2009

Nou Fini from the 2012 

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Marjorie Judith Vincent

In my search to find and celebrate beautiful Haitian women whose stories need to be retold,  I stumbled upon a Kreyalicious story about Marjorie Judith Vincent .

She was the fourth woman of African ancestry to win the Miss America Pageant and the first Haitian American winner. 

With a classic beauty, Duke law school education, and a flawless execution of a Chopin piece. She captured the crown in 1991

What I find interesting with her story? Well apparently, she abandoned her law degree pursuit at Duke when she was almost done ( 4 credits short) for a journalism career but, years later in 2008 she went back to school to finish in law. I would love to see her now and perhaps learn more about her personal story.

She is a Vre Fanm Kreyol (Real Creole Beauty)

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Haiti Carnaval 2012

This Year's official Haiti Carnaval is in Les Cayes instead of Port au Prince . There is also Carnival activities in all major cities. I'll include pictures from Jacmel and other places I can find

Updated 2/21/12
second day pictures- lundi gras

Carnaval Queens- From the traditional ball for the queens- This ball marks the official start of Carnaval

Some of the ladies:

To see more pics go to the President's facebook page click here
Here are some pics from Jacmel's carnival. Enjoy

A few from Cap Haitien

http://alhaitienne.blogspot.com/2012/02/haiti-carnaval-queen-2012.html
pictures of the Carnaval queens in another post. Check them out

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Author: Edwidge Danticat

Edwidge Danticat is a Haitian-American author. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on 19 January, 1969. She moved to Brooklyn, New York at the age of 12. First wrote short stories published in New Youth Connections, and now well-known for "Breath, Eyes, and Memory.

This is a good read, so look for it at your local library. After reading, comment. If you have already read it (or anything else by Danticat, Comment!). What did you like or dislike about?

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She Got Soul: Talie Ayiti interview part 2

 This is the second part of Nathalie Cerin's little chat with A l'Haitienne. Find the first part along with a short introduction  here

AL:What is the most challenging thing about breaking into the music industry? 

NC: The most challenging would be that people tend to only associate Konpa as Haitian music. I enjoy Konpa just as much as the next person, but people are really cheating themselves of wonderful musical discoveries by only limiting themselves to listening to konpa when it comes to Haitian music. Haitians tend to not be too interested in listening to something if it isn't something they can dance to. My music is more of a "sit down and relax" genre.

I encourage Haitian Americans to look up Haitian artists that are not Konpa singers and see how much their music can really touch you. 

AL: Is it harder for you as an Haitian woman?

NC: Being a woman has its pros and cons when it comes to being a Haitian singer. One of the pros is the shock factor. In Haiti, guitar is a male instrument. People are always so surprised to see me get onstage with my guitar to play as i sing. Haitian men also LOVE to hear music that flatters men, my song "Ti Neg Chelbe" describes a handsome man, and every time I sing it for a Haitian audience, the men in the crowd react as if I'm specifically singing to them. They have a soft spot for us women, and that can really be used to their advantage.

The cons of being a woman is that people might not take you as seriously, because the Haitian Music Industry really is a boys' club.

AL: I know you were in Haiti during the Earthquake. What did you take away from the experience? Tell us a little about "Revolisyon"

NC: I was in Haiti for Christmas break visiting my parents when the earthquake hit. I watched the house I grew up in fall to pieces in front of my eyes. I stayed a few weeks after and translated at a hospital for a European medical team. The song is basically about the desperation I saw during those few weeks, but also about the glimmer of hope and the need to take this as a time for revolution. A change of mindset, a time for unity.

AL: Are you working on any projects right now? Do you have any plans for an album?

NC: My current project is graduate school. I am working on a masters degree in multicultural education that I should be finishing very soon. Musically, I am simply living, loving and writing, and taking the opportunity to perform at wherever allows me to share my art. Hopefully my music projects will be more concrete, but for now I am happy with where it has taken me and the response I have been getting.

AL:What does "A l'Haitienne mean to you? What are some cool/funny things that can be considered strictly "A l'Haitienne"

NC: A L'Haitienne is doing things with your special Haitian woman touch. We're fancy. We don't just fry our eggs with salt and pepper, we season it with maggi. You can't just sneak up behind us in the club to dance with us, you have to ask first. We won't dare serve our man a sandwich after breakfast time, that's not a meal. We're just awesome. :) 

AL: Finally, is their a specific "ti neg" behind "Ti neg chelbe" it's one of my favorite songs and inquiring minds want to know lol

NC: People ask me this question so often...but believe me when I say, it's hypothetical! lol.. It's funny. I wrote this song only a few days after meeting an ex of mine. I know he still, till this day, believes that song is about him. Little does he know, I had come up with the idea and recorded the voice note for that song months before ever meeting for him. The truth is, we all enjoy the sight of a handsome man, but it's not really expected or accepted for us to "holla"...the song is more of a social commentary than anything. A regular girl who spots a handsome guy, and is wracking her brain for ways she could possibly approach him, but in the end realizes that her only chance would only be if he were to fall for her.

We really enjoyed this interview and I hope you do too! Comment and add her on (fb, twitter, youtube) to stay updated on what she's doing. Thanks for reading!

She left her info here. Make sure you check her out!

Follow me on Twitter @Miss_Talie

Like my facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/TalieAyiti

Check out my Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/TalieAyiti

And read my blog: http://www.paleavem.com

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Do you know Jany?

In the 60's,  a young woman with dreams of becoming a medical doctor stumbled into the modeling world

Models get discovered all the time you might say, but she is something different... She is Jany Tomba!

She's a Vre Fanm Kreyol (Haitian Beauty) with dreams and an unsure future in the great, exciting, and scary world that is NYC in the 1960's.

She went on to become a very popular model covering many magazines and doing ad campaings in the 60's and 70's. She is truly one of the first black supermodels... Proud Haitian roots to boot!

After retiring, she became a painter and these days you can find her still painting, reliving her life through her granddaughter's exhibits and documentary of her, and on many people's inspiration boards.

I hope you know get to know Jany a little bit more after you watch this beautiful documentary about her I Love Jany Video
I'm proud to talk about her and I'm inspired by her life and joy. Thank you Jany!

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