Haitian Communal Singing: Black Voices in Common
Introduction
This resource pack, created for us by Germa Adan in 2026, with contributions from Steveen Ulysse, introduces students to Haitian communal singing through a series of traditional folk songs and guided musical activities.
Overview of Songs
Dodo Ti Pitit Manman – caregiving and family life
Nan Fon Bwa – environment and relationship to space
Ti Zwazo – storytelling and imagination
Fèy O – nature and spiritual connection
You might also be interested in our resources Black British History and Folk Songs, the resource that Angeline Morrison created for us in 2023; Black Singers and Folk Ballads, which was written by musician and singer Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne in 2020; And our earlier resource Black Sailors and Sea Shanties from 2015, written by Carla Brown, with song arrangements by artists Adriano Adewale and Hazel Askew.
Supplementary viewing: This short video, What does folk music mean to you? Diversity and inclusion in Music by Pearson, features Germa Adan sharing her thoughts on the nature and significance of folk music.
Supplementary listening: Germa has worked as a tutor with the National Youth Folk Ensemble, co-creating arrangements of Haitian traditional songs that she taught the young musicians – you can listen to their arrangement of Nan Fon Bwa from 2025 on Soundcloud.
