Any Haitian city is well-known for its traditions, its cultural and historical sites, its people’ sense of hospitality or its gastronomical specialty.
The city of Jérémie is famous for its Komparèt and its Tomtom made of bread fruit showered in flour and oil.
The town of Artibonite is legendary for its “Diri ak Lalo” while Petit-Goâve is eminent for its “Dous Makos.”
Cap-Haitian is famed for its “Noix” (Nuts) whereas Les Cayes and Cavaillon are illustrious for their “Gelée” (Jam) and Jacmel is the jewelry that showcases appealing beaches where tourists can enjoy the greatest roasted fishes they can ever find.
However, the city of Léogâne is the only Haitian city that is reputed to have seven marvels that constitute a bundle of art, culture, and to project a heartily welcome to politicians, historians, poets, writers, tourists, photographers, film makers, musicians, businessmen, journalists, reporters, etc.
The first marvel of the city is its musical fest dearly called “Rara.” This phenomenon has grown throughout the years to become the truest and the most admired Haitian culture. It starts the first Sunday ending the Haitian carnival (Mardi-Gras) to finish the Wednesday following Easter Sunday.
Rara is sponsored by Léogânais living overseas. They send thousands of dollars in order to facilitate that their favorite band be the most decorated and the heaviest when it comes to musical instruments.
The bands practice during the weeks so they can be ready to travel by foot on Sundays to go visit other bands.
The second marvel of Léogâne is the Queen Anacaona who was born “sur l’habitation de Ti-Boucan”. Anacaona was the only queen of Haiti. She was also the only queen (Cacique) to have governed and reigned over two kingdoms (Caciquats).
Note also that during the supremacy of Anacaona, Léogâne, anciently called Yaguana was the capital of Haiti (island of Santo Domingo)
The birth of the queen leads to the third marvel of the city that is its historical scenery.
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Léogâne has many fortresses. The major ones are the Grotte Anacaona and the Grotte of Belloc.
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Simone Ovide Duvalier, respectively the wife and the mother of two Haitian presidents (François and Jean-Claude Duvalier) was born in Léogâne.
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Marie Claire Guillaume Heureuse, the wife of the King Jean Jacques Dessalines, Général Baltazar, and Général Marion were also from Léogâne.
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The oldest sugar mill of the country is located in Léogâne (Chatuley). It was also owned by Faustin Soulouque.
The fourth marvel of Léogâne is the Church Ste-Rose de Lima. It was at that Church that Jean Jacques Dessalines said yes to Marie Claire Guillaume Heureuse.
The fifth marvel of Léogâne is its football (soccer) represented by the two tenors of the Haitian football. For over thirty years, Cavaly and Valencia have been proudly supporting the Haitian soccer by providing players who represent the football Haitian beyond the national boundaries.
Fleurial Jean-Bernard, Carlo Marcelin, Patrice “Pepe” Dumont, Jean Yves Labaze, Innocent “Ayile” Andre, Pierre Andre Roosevelt, Georges Gilles and many others are from the city of Léogâne. The highest paid Haitian soccer player, Pierre Jean-Jacques who is currently performing in France, is Léogânais.
The sixth marvel of Léogâne is its agriculture. The Haitian peasant cultivates in abundance for his subsistence as well as to sell to others. Whatever the season, the peasant has all types of crops (corn, mangoes, potatoes, yam, rice, bread fruit, etc) that can last him for years.
The seventh marvel of Léogâne is its “Fête Champêtre” or the celebration of Ste Rose, which is celebrated at the end of the month of August. During this season, the city is well lit with different colors of lights. Diverse concession stands are located on both sides of the streets while Haitians from everywhere are attending a ton of concerts organized for such an event.
During the Ste-Rose, the choice is yours. If you are a Christian, especially a Catholic, the church chants a mass of requiem and a procession and several other types of masses to keep the faith alive. But if you are in the mood to go foot loose, you would have hard times making up your mind because at every corner, there would be some types of festivities for you to enjoy.
If you happen to go to Haiti, make it your obligation to visit Léogâne. You will be thrilled to feel how the residents are keen to show you their sense of hospitality. If you are an art erudite, your eyes will be glued on our walls that showcase the masterpieces of local artists and painters.
The earthquake of January 12, 2010 may have taken lives and destroyed thousands of houses but it was not strong enough to take away the “Léogâne Pride” and the seven marvels that make Léogânais pompously scandalize that “We are Léogânais and we are proud to be so.”
In 2013, Léogâne will be 350 years old.
Bobb Q Rousseau
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