"Haiti I am Sorry", or simply "Haiti", is a
calypso song written and composed by
David Rudder
David Michael Rudder OCC (born 6 May 1953) is a Trinidadian calypsonian, known to be one of the most successful calypsonians of all time.
He performed as lead singer for the brass band Charlie's Roots. Nine years later, Rudder stepped outside t ...
, and first recorded in 1988 for the album ''Haiti'' by David Rudder and Charlie's Roots. The song, which begins with the words: "
Toussaint was a mighty man/ and to make matters worse he was black...", is a tribute to the glory and suffering of
Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
, and was described in the
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
review as "a remarkable ode to Caribbean unity".
Personnel
Impact
The song has been credited with having in 1988 "brought impoverished Creole-speaking Haiti to the attention of the English-speaking Caribbean", and is frequently referenced in connection with ongoing political and environmental problems in Haiti. It was selected by
Margaret Busby
Margaret Yvonne Busby, , Hon. FRSL (born 1944), also known as Nana Akua Ackon, is a Ghanaian-born publisher, editor, writer and broadcaster, resident in the UK. She was Britain's youngest and first black female book publisherJazzmine Breary"Let' ...
as one her eight musical choices on ''
Desert Island Discs
''Desert Island Discs'' is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It was first broadcast on the BBC Forces Programme on 29 January 1942.
Each week a guest, called a " castaway" during the programme, is asked to choose eight recordings (usu ...
'' in June 2021.
See also
*
June 1988 Haitian coup d'état
The June 1988 Haitian coup d'état took place on 20 June 1988, when Henri Namphy overthrew Leslie Manigat. IACHRREPORT ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HAITI OEA/Ser.L/V/II.74 doc. 9 rev. 1, 7 September 1988 Manigat, who won the military-contr ...
*
September 1988 Haitian coup d'état
The September 1988 Haitian coup d'état took place on 18 September 1988, when a group of non-commissioned officers in the Haitian Presidential Guard overthrew General Henri Namphy and brought General Prosper Avril to power. IACHRREPORT ON THE ...
References
External links
*
1988 songs
Calypso songs
Reggae songs
Soca songs
Songs about Haiti
{{Haiti-stub