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François Duvalier was a Haitian politician. From 1957 to 1971, he served as the president of Haiti. Over the course of his political career, Duvalier's regime became despotic and totalitarian. In 1964, Duvalier declared himself President for Life and remained in power until his death. Since his demise, several books have been written about his rule in Haiti.
Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian stateswoman who became the first black person and Haitian Canadian to serve as Governor General of Canada, a position which she held from 2005 to 2010. In 2015, Jean became the first woman to serve as the secretary-general of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, a position which she held until the end of 2018.
Michel Martelly is a Haitian former politician. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the 41st president of Haiti. Also a singer and keyboardist, Michel was one of Haiti's most popular musicians for over a period of 10 years! He is renowned for his Kompa music and has released several studio albums like Anba Rad La and Tout Cé Mately.
Apparently, Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat, known for books such as Breath, Eyes, Memory, had begun writing to escape the bullying she faced because of her Haitian ways after she moved to the U.S. as a young girl. Although her parents wanted her to study medicine, she took up French literature.
Born in Haiti, Samuel Dalembert later moved to Canada and then to the US. Known for his 13-year stint with NBA teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and the Sacramento Kings, he has also been in the news for wrong reasons, such as for being suspended due to late arrival and oversleeping.
Alexandre Pétion was a Haitian political leader best remembered for his service as the first President of Haiti from 9 March 1807 until his death on 29 March 1818. Today, Alexandre Pétion is revered as one of the founding fathers of Haiti.
Born to Haitian agronomist Claude Préval, René Préval, too, followed in his father’s footsteps to become a prominent agronomist. He also studied geothermal sciences, before stepping into politics and becoming Haiti’s 2nd prime minister and, later, its 41st president. He had also served as the Haitian interior and defense minister.
Jean-Claude Duvalier was a Haitian politician. From 1971 to 1986, Duvalier served as the president of Haiti before he was removed from office by a popular uprising. During his presidency, thousands of Haitians were tortured or killed. His presidency was also marked by his notoriously lavish lifestyle, while many Haitians were left to battle poverty.
Jean-Pierre Boyer was a Haitian political leader best remembered for his service as the President of Haiti from 30 March 1818 to 13 February 1843. He is credited with reuniting the north and south of Haiti to form the Republic of Haiti. Jean-Pierre Boyer also annexed Spanish Haiti to bring all of Hispaniola under a single Haitian government by 1822.
Laurent Lamothe is a Haitian businessman, political figure, and economist. He is known for his service as the Prime Minister of Haiti from 16 May 2012 to 14 December 2014. He also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 24 October 2011 to 6 August 2012. Laurent Lamothe is currently serving as the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation.
Haitian-Canadian actor-singer Luck Mervil initially experimented with reggae and rap and later appeared on stage, on TV, and in films. His best-known role was that of Clopin in Notre-Dame de Paris. He was later accused of sexually exploiting a minor, pleaded guilty, and served a 6-month sentence.
Bigga Haitian is a Haitian singer and musician who achieved popularity in the 1990s. He is best known for successfully breaking into the Jamaican reggae scene and paving the way for several young and aspiring Haitian artists. Some of the most talented Haitian artists like Mecca aka Grimo and Wyclef Jean credit Bigga Haitian as a major influence.
Haitian author and intellectual Jacques Roumain explored the black perspective through his works and also believed in the concept of art for people's sake. Best known for his poetry collection Ebony Wood and his novel Masters of the Dew, he was also a supporter of Marxist theory.
Haitian politician Florence Duperval Guillaume has been Haiti’s health minister and has also led the country as its acting prime minister. In 2022, she was nominated by Haiti as a candidate to lead the Pan American Health Organization as its director, in place of Dominica’s Dr. Carissa Etienne.
