Haitian students at Senghor University in Alexandria, Egypt, celebrated the 220th anniversary of Haiti’s independence alongside students from various African countries, including Benin. The event featured exchanges and debates on Haiti’s independence history, along with the sharing of “Joumou” soup as a highlight.
To commemorate the 220th anniversary of Haiti’s independence, on January 1, 2024, Haitian students from the 19th promotion of Senghor University in Alexandria organized a day of reflection and shared “giraumon” soup, the traditional dish of Haiti’s independence celebration, enjoyed in both rural and urban areas across the country. In a friendly and fraternal atmosphere, invited students got acquainted with Haiti’s national anthem, the Dessalinienne, and key moments in Haiti’s path to independence, such as the general slave uprising on the night of August 14, 1791, known as the Bois-Caïman ceremony, and the Battle of Vertières on November 18, 1803. They also discussed the symbolism of “Joumou” soup, a dish representing social cohesion, fraternity, and revolution, as it was once forbidden to slaves and reserved for colonizers during colonization. The celebration concluded with the tasting of the soup.
Walner Olivier, a Haitian student in the Culture department at Senghor University, emphasized the tradition encouraging all Haitians, both in Haiti and abroad, to consume soup on January 1 each year. He also highlighted UNESCO’s recognition of the soup as intangible cultural heritage since December 2021.
“The Joumou soup is no longer the property of Haiti or Haitians. It now belongs to humanity,” he declared. Erroce Ezechiel Ekundayo Yanclo, a representative of the Beninese community and a project management student, expressed his satisfaction, saying, “This shared moment has truly pleased us. Many thanks to the Haitian community.”
Additionally, Johnson Phycien, a Haitian student in governance and public management, who motivated the entire Haitian community for the event, expressed satisfaction with this first celebration and intends to plan more activities with the Haitian community on significant dates related to Haiti.
“Thank you for honoring us with your presence today. This activity, our very first, aims to strengthen our ties with students, especially the Beninese with whom Haiti shares historical, cultural, and spiritual connections,” he affirmed.
Participating in the celebration were master’s students in development at Senghor University in Alexandria from Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Cameroon, Mali, Djibouti, Madagascar, and Senegal.