The Celebration of the International Day of Creole Languages and Cultures is a tradition that begins in Curaçao in 2015. It is way to honor the declaration made by UNESCO in 1983, in which it declared “October 28” as the International Day of Creole Languages and Cultures worldwide.

It’s a nice promise to continue commemorating this day every year. On this note, Enstiti Kreyòl Pale, Kreyòl Konprann* would like to thank the Consulate General of Haiti for its support, and all the artists. We have not forgotten the public who was present, and participated. This allowed for the success of this evening. We look forward to seeing everyone next year (God willing). As the investigation continues, we are learning what we (Haitian people) have in common with the people of Curaçao.

Enstiti Kreyòl Pale, Kreyòl Konprann is an idea that began to germinate in Myriam Lavache mind. It all started when she had the opportunity to teach Haitian Creole to people in Curaçao who were interested in learning the language in 2015. This is how the Archeological and Anthropological Museum of Curaçao started with Haitian Creole courses. This initiative aimed to make the people of Curaçao more acquainted with other Caribbean people, especially Haitians.

Lavache is a Haitian who has been living in Curaçao since 2002. She is a former literacy school monitor in Haiti. – In 2016, the Institute was born. Since then, the Institute has been providing Creole courses at different levels such as police school promotion, immigration on the island, and the promotion of the Institute itself.

We provide translation services (written and oral). We are recognized by the Court of Justice of Curaçao as Haitian Creole translators for the Haitian community. In 2017, we invited Haitian linguist, Emmanuel W. Védrine, to NAAM for a conference on the History of the Haitian Creole language. This way, the community could become more familiar with the language.

In 2018, we had professor Jean Armoce Dugé who presented on this term: “Importance of the native language” in a conference, and we also had one week training for monitors who we were going to be involved in literacy on the island.

Enstiti Kreyòl Pale, Kreyòl Konprann is there for all Haitians and the people of Curaçao who want to learn Haitian Creole. We are here to promote the Haitian language and culture. That way, over here on the island, they will get to know us and learn more about our culture.

On October 29, 2025, we celebrated International Creole Language and Culture Day. This initiative started in September 2025, when I got in touch with a young man, Jean Elie Dade. He told me that he found two other young people so that could organize an evening reciting poetry.

At the same time, I was motivated to prepare that evening. I remember since I have been researching Creole proverbswhich are similar Papiamento proverbs. I got in touch with professor Noris Doran, who is teaching Papiamento. We agreed to collaborate on this research.

Together with help of the youth, I managed to collect thirty (30) proverbs, along with their equivalents in other languages. Thus, we carried out a large advertising campaign on television and radio. The public responded to the call. The evening began with the national anthems of the two countries. Next, the Consul General of Haiti, Mr. Carl Edouard Saint Rémy, spoke.
The evening went on with a speech by Myriam Lavache, where she elaborated on the importance the International Creole and Culture Day. After that, we rejoiced in the recitation of two beautiful poems in the two languages. For Haiti, we had Leon Joslemme, Jobson Theoger and Jean Elie Dade. representing Curaçao, we had: Robert Taylor, Calviany Eleonora and Noris Doran.

After these beautiful recitations, Myriam Lavache along with Noris Doran went up on stage to present the proverbs to the audience. It was a very receptive audience, one that contributed to the success of that evening.

Finally, we socialized, chatted with each other, and congratulated each other on this beautiful move. Enstiti Kreyòl Pale, Kreyòl Konprann is working on collections of poetry to present all these proverbs to the public next year.

*Note

• English translation (of original text in Papiamento): Emmanuel W. Védrine.
   
• Enstiti Kreyòl Pale, Kreyòl Konprann: Institute for speaking and understanding Haitian Creole. Photo: collage by Jean Rosvelt Meraite.
   
• National Anthem of Curaçao.
   
• National Anthem of Haiti (“La Dessalinienne”).

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Courtesy : Koutwazi : Cortesía
Védrine Creole Project, Inc.
Boston, MA. USA

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 Viré monté