Haitian people say this proverb to show the importance of experience. Even though some people are old and their methods are old fashioned, they still work. New comers, new ideas will need time to be experimented to know their result. They also say that even though we want to use new products, new ideas or supplies, we should hold the ancient ones as a backup in case that the new ones are not giving the expected result or present some kind of dysfunctions.
The literal English translation would be: “Promise is debt.”
The community mindset is largely accepted in Haiti. People enjoy serving others and sharing things they have. Some people even promise some kind of service to others or some sort of things that they know they will have.
Once they are promised something, people expect to receive what they were promised. The expectation is the same as a payment or a salary. If they do not receive it, some will ask for it, but some will just take you as a deceiver and not tell you anything.
Haitians say this proverb to remind people to be faithful and keep their word. It is not a good image for us not to do what we promise to do. The proverb is also a warning to those who like to talk without thinking, to promise without considering their availability, means, or the possibility for that to actually happen. It is better to do something without a prior promise than to not do something that was promised.
We should remind ourselves that we have to do/give anything we promise. And any time someone promises to do something for you, or promise to give you something, when the time arrives and he/she does not keep his/her word, go ask it to him/her reminding him/her that
“Pwomès se dèt”
In English, it would be : " Asking for account does not break friendship."
Friendship is something valuable in Haitian society and other parts of the world. Trust, respect, love, appreciation and lots of great values are involved. Part of people’s happiness depends on that.
Many people like to associate their means (money, and other resources) to create companies and do businesses. Some people have their friend as partner; some do not. And giving account (explanation, clarifications...) is part of business life. There is a time we should put everything out of the basket so that partners can see, count, touch, or observe them.
Haitians discuss prices at the market. The seller asks for a price, and the buyer gives a price. When they come into an agreement, the buyer pays, and the seller receives the money and gives back change if it is needed. The buyer is asked to count the change to see if the amount is accurate even though the seller is his/her friend.
Some sellers leave their products under the care of another seller that is a friend. When they come back, they are reported of all the transactions regardless of the trust they have on their friends.
People say this proverb to express the fact that to double check a number with a friend that is our partner, asking for clarifications or question a fact about a transaction does mean we do not trust our friend, but this will strengthen the friendship.
So anytime you do business with a friend, when you open a box of product he/she hands you, when you open the envelope to check the accuracy of the sum written on it..., remember to say : " Regleman pa gate zanmi" just to avoid any further disagreement but not because you do not trust him/her.
While hiking in Furcy this summer, our Director of Economic Development, Vorb Charles, took this beautiful photo which highlights the beauty of his homeland. The following are his personal reflections:
This is an Haitian Creole proverb that could be literally translated: “Behind mountains, there are mountains.” Haiti has a lot of hills and mountains. Sometimes, you see a high one and you think there is no other behind but when you past it, you see many others and sometimes higher and stronger.
It expresses the idea of humility and challenge. For those who think they are all powerful, they are the smartest, the wealthiest, the strongest, the most beautiful… they should remember that there is someone bigger, even more powerful, smarter, stronger, wealthier, more beautiful than them. Maybe you do not see him/her yet, but he/she can challenge and defeat you.
It is the same idea for David and Goliath. Goliath thought he was the strongest, the most talented for war. But he was defeated and put to death by someone nobody could imagine being stronger and more talented for war than him.
Let’s be humble and thankful for what God has given us. Let’s use our wealth, talent, knowledge, and faith to serve others and not to oppress them because
Dèyè mòn, gen mòn
The following thoughts are shared by Vorb Charles, Director of Economic Development, at Haiti Awake.
Ti kouto pa grate manch literally means “Little knife doesn’t scrub its own handle”.
In Haiti, mostly in the countryside, people usually have tools with handles made of wood. For example, the big spoon they use to cook with. They call it “kiyè bwa” (wood spoon).
When they want to clean it, they use the blade of a little knife to do so, and this knife has its own handle made of wood, too. But they cannot use the blade of the knife to clean its handle even though it has been used to clean other wood tools’ handles. So came this proverb: “Ti kouto pa grate manch li.”
It expresses the idea of help needed. Everyone needs help, advice, guidance even as they themselves are helpers, advisers, guides. They need someone else to help them because their own help, advice, guidance does not work for them.
Let’s keep on being humble, considering others as valuable as God has created them. Those we are helping can help us, too.
“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning:
Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body.
We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
— Romans 12:3-5
The following was written by Vorb Charles, Director of Economic Development at Haiti Awake.
Yon dwèt pa manje kalalou
In English, it is literally : "We cannot eat okra with one finger."
In Haiti, people are used to eating okra in sauce and well done. When the meal is ready, the okra is difficult to take out of the bowl to the mouth with one finger because it glides/slips and get back to the bowl. Someone should use two fingers minimum to be able to eat them using his/her hands.
This teaches us the idea of community in solving problem or coming out with a solution for some kind of problems. It needs the wisdom, faith, talent, expertise of many to solve some kind of issues.
Together we are stronger to face a strong problem/difficulty.
This is an Haitian proverb that could be literally translated: " Neighbors are family".
In many places in Haiti either in the Capitol, around it, or in the countryside, some services of the Government are not near or difficult to access for some causes.
People share almost everything (food, water, medicine, recipes, material possessions...) because they feel like it is natural for them and even a second nature in some places.
People in Haiti know that the first person to know about your problem or difficulties is your neighbor. For example, a neighbor will give you the first aid while waiting for the medical help (ambulance) to come. They will transport you in their car to the hospital or throw water on the fire if your house is burning. They will take part in your marriage and in the funeral of a family member.
This teaches a community commitment. We need each other. It is our reponsibility to bring first response or call of response to the needs of our neighbors whether they ask for it or do not.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have. Hebrews 13:16
The translation of this Haitian proverb would be: "There is no Prayer without an Amen."
In Haiti, people pray a lot and continuously until their prayer has an answer. During that time, they suffer emotionally, mentally, and sometimes physically. When their prayers are answered, they stop praying about the subject. They are relieved, happy, and they do not suffer anymore.
Therefore, when someone has any kind of suffering or trial, people, often tell them: "Pa gen lapriyè ki pa gen amen" to support the person emotionally as a reminder that the suffering has an end, it will diminish, and disappear sooner or later.
This teaches us to be patient and gives us hope when we are in any kind of trial, battle, or bad situation. No matter how long it takes, one day it will fade away and disappear.
Therefore, we believe:, " Pa gen lapriyè ki pa gen amen."
In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me. Psalm 120:1
This phrase could be literally translated: "The way cats walk is not the way they catch rats."
We all know the way cats walk. The do it slowly, innocently, and without any care. But when they see a rat and have to hunt to eat, they have totally a different way to be. They become active, smart, rapid, and mad.
In Haiti, we use this proverb to warn people to be careful with people that look and seem inoffensive, weak, or physically short. Appearance or gender are not good indicators to estimate the capacity of someone.
This teaches us not to judge someone by sight when it come to his/her ability and to be careful with people we do not know.
Everyone is intelligent and can fight for what they like or want especially when they have to.
It’s true. "Jan chat mache, se pa kon Sa l kenbe rat."
Sa Bondye sere pou ou, lavalas pa ka pote l ale.
A literal translation would be: "What God holds tight for you, floods cannot take it away."
An island country of the Caribbean, Haiti has faced widescale floods many times in her story due to excessive rainfall and deforestation in the mountains. When the flood causes the river to rush and swell, it brings rocks, branches, and other large debris with it. Often, the flood is so big that it overtakes everything on its path. We Haitians call this kind of flood "lavalas".
Haitians say that even if you or your possession are on its itinarary, it will not be taken away.
This proverb teaches us about the faithfulness of God and His providence in that what God has for you, nothing can prevent it from happening and nothing can take it away.
It is used to encourage people when they are in a desperate situation and when something fortunate occurs to someone out of nothing after a hard and difficult time to congratulate them.
No matter what you are facing, we as Haitians remember “Sa Bondye sere pou ou, lavalas pa ka pote l ale."
Mache chache, pa dòmi san souple.
One who keeps on searching does not sleep without dinner. This could be the literal translation for that proverb.
In Haiti, life is a struggle. Whatever you want to find, get, or achieve is not easy. It take time, energy, patience, hard work, and dedication to have it.
The meal that we take at night is called "soupe". People say that if you take the whole day searching for something to eat, you will, at least, find the "soupe".
This teaches us to be patient and keep hope in our venture knowing that one day we will have the result of our hard work and dedication. But it also a warning to those who keeps on making poor choices, doing wrong or accelerating in the bad way. They will have the result of their choices.
People say this proverb as a compliment after an achievement that requires hard working and perseverance or as a blame to someone who gets the results of his/her poor action.
We should remember that any choice that we make, anything that we dedicate ourselves to either good or bad, we will find the result.
"Empty bags do not stand" is the literal English translation of this Haitian proverb.
In Haiti, people use 'sak' (bags) for many purposes. They use plastic, carton, and clothe ones. They are used in to put goods, merchandise, crops, harvest, food or any personal stuff so that they can transport them and hide them from the sight of people.
As we all know, a 'sak' (bag) cannot stand but itself or stay upright if it is not full, half full or without something in it. If empty, it will lay on the ground.
Haitians use this proverb to say that in the same way a 'sak' (bag) cannot stand by itself if it is empty, people cannot do anything or have strength and energy to do anything or even stand up if they are hungry.
This proverb is used whenever someone is called to do something and he/she is hungry or when he/she gets weak after trying to do some kind of work with an empty belly. So you know immediately that they really need something to eat. And you would rather give them something to eat so that they can recover in strength and energy.
So remember: 'Sa k vid pa kanpe'.
This proverb could be literally translated: “After dance, drums are heavy."
Tanbou (drums) are one of the typical musical instruments in Haitian culture. Almost all the bands, either formal or informal, has at least one tanbou (drums) amount their instruments. And people like to organize dans (dances) once in a while and on special occasions.
Haitian drummers are used to playing a set of tanbou. - a big one that they call "manman tambou" (main drum), medium and little ones. The set gives a wonderful, powerful and strong rhythmic sound that makes listeners want to dance or even move their toes.
The idea of that proverb is that people have a lot of energy to set up the dance. After dancing, they are tired and do not really have strength to put away the set of tanbou that now looks heavy.
Haitians say this proverb when someone hosted a party and has to clean alone after, while others helped him/her set it up. Or when someone has to assume alone the consequences after a collective action.
This teaches us that there are consequences for any of our actions and most of the time, we have to face them alone even though we were not alone in them.
"Byen pre, pa lakay"
This proverb could be literally translated:: " Very near is not home." Back in the days, even now, in some places in Haiti, people have to walk miles to reach some areas and walk back home. Mostly in the countryside, some people walk to reach the work field or the market to buy or sell stuff.
We have a lot of energy at the beginning and in the middle of the journey. But at the end, it is a different story. We are tired and tend to have a pause under a mango tree or at a friend's house. And the fatigue and discouragement tend to invade us and give us the will to take a nap. The longer the pause, the further home seems to be, even though we are very near.
And people say that even though we are very near, we are not home yet. We need to double or triple our courage and strength to take the road again and finish the journey.
The same thing tends to happen to most people on something they undertook. When they are almost done, they tend to anticipate the joy of accomplishment. And if they are not careful and continue to work with the same discipline, they probably won't accomplish it.
Some artists have many unfinished pieces of art because they continue to say it needs a little work to be done but never have the time or the will to get it done. This also happens to people in other areas in life. Every time they are almost done with something, they know they can finish it any time with no real effort, they leave it and start another one.
Haitian say " Byen pre, pa lakay" to remind themselves that something is really done or accomplished when it requires no more work.
Pye kout, pran devan. It could be translated by " Short legs, go ahead"
In Haiti, community is valuable. People like to travel and work in groups. Sometimes, the group of workers is going to work some place else. The group has tall and short people, fast and slow walking ones. Those that are short, given the length of their legs, they like to start the journey early, before the others that are fast walkers, so that they can arrive on time or not being left behind.
Slow workers like to start their jobs before the fast ones and before the time set to have enough time to finish.
This proverb is used to encourage people that are planning ahead an event. People that start a journey early. It is also used to remind people that they have to measure their talent, capacity and ability and act accordingly. If we do not have the same ability, resources , connections, resilience... We might not be able to keep up with the others without putting in extra time or effort.
This proverb has also the idea of anticipating an event. Sometimes you sense something will happen given some signs/factors. You make due decisions before they happen and get prepared for it.
If your legs are short, remember to go ahead, to leave early.
Bagay piti pa chich
This Haitian proverb could be literally translated as "little gifts don't mean stingy".
Haitian people are used to living in community. They know others' names, stories, and family trees. They like to share what they have (food, information, money, pain, joy...). Sharing is one of the Haitian values that is taught from childhood.
Sometimes people have something insignificant in quantity, and they feel the necessity or the willingness to give it or to share it with someone else. To show respect to the receiver and their will to give, they say : "bagay piti pa chich" after handing it to him/her or when the receiver gives thanks after receiving it mostly when it was sent. Or sometimes when the giver calls the receiver to tell him/her that he/she has sent something for him/her.
With this proverb we know that everyone can share what they have - as little as it may be. And we should be humble enough to receive what somebody offers/gives us with all his/her heart.
(Note: It is a shame to say no to the giver when he/she takes pleasure to share the little he/she has, specially for the elders. But we can say no if this could hinder our faith, leadership position, or if we know that the giver has a bad intention).
Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:24-25
Bat Chen an, tann mèt li
This could be literally translated as: "Beat the dog, expect its owner."
Dogs are one of humans best friend among all animals. For people, dogs can be either good companions, security guards, helpers, guides, and more. People take time to take care of them, bring them to the hospital, feed them and protect them. For some people, dogs are like their own children.
On the other hand, some people hate dogs. Any time they see one, they feel like beating them, throwing rocks at them and possibly harming them in some manner. They tend to ignore that every "chen" (dog) has a "mèt" (owner).
People say this proverb to remind those that hit/beat/harm a dog that its owner will take revenge.
Haitians say that proverb also to remind anyone that robs/mistreats/harms a less fortunate, weaker or unprotected person that someone is going to take revenge for him/her. And often,, people refer to God as the avenger/revenger of the poor/week and unprotected.
This proverb teaches us to think twice before doing any harm to those that are less strong/ fortunate than us. And it also reminds us that "dèyè mòn gen mòn" (we will find someone more powerful than us to pay us back our harm). When one acts like that, he attracts trouble to himself.
Let us do good to everyone anytime everywhere anyway because God will ask us about our actions.
In English, literally, this proverb would say: " Too much hurry does not advance the daylight."
In Haiti, people travel a great deal from place to place. They like to start their activities early in the morning. At night, retailers, street vendors, gardeners, tap tap/bus drivers, travellers, local tourists, and others want the next day to come fast so that they can run their activities.
In some places, people do not have watches or clocks. At night, they watch the stars in the sky from time to time to guess the hour. Some other people pay attention to the song of roosters during the night to have the hour. Some people, even though they have a watch or a clock, they keep on guessing the time instead.
Sometimes, people want so much for the day to come that they do not beleive the time displayed on clocks or watches.
Sometimes when we have something to do, we are so excited that we are impatient to have the opportunity to do it. We can not wait until the right time comes to do it - either an announcement, a surprise to do to someone, a place to visit, or a decision to make, especially if it is for the first time.
People say this proverb to remind impatient people that we cannot make the night or the day shorter. It will take the same amount of time as usual. We also say this proverb to encourage people to go through the process in doing something. Skipping necessary steps is fatal to quality and sustaining results.
Let us take the time to enjoy the process, to pause, and sometimes relax, in our endeavours.
