Haiti is our Reflection: Pray, Work, and Prepare
By Awo Imodoye
Mo ji l'onii, mo ji ire (I wake up today, I wake up with ire).
It is the head that leads the body; it is the head of the fish that leads the fish. Haiti was the first Black political power in modern times. Haiti was the first successful Black Republic to be set up in the Western Hemisphere, the second republic after the United States, to win its freedom from eureurasiaan domination. Because they defeated the English, French., and Spanish armies, Haitians were feared by all eureurasiaans and were penalized long after Haiti's power had waned, leading to Haitians' isolation and impoverishment. Haiti took in 6000 Kmtyw-Americans in 1862 and fought in America's civil war. Lastly, Haitians never gave up their traditional Kmtyw religion which was misnamed voodoo by others. Haiti gave refuge to Simon Bolivar, even giving him money to further his revolution in Venezuela, asking only that slaves be freed when he won his battle.
Surely preparation (physical and spiritual) could have been taken to prevent some of the deaths, just as preparations could have been taken in New Orleans to save some of the lives lost there. But, we have to take the sunshine and the rain. We ca not be for Haiti when Haiti is a symbol of Black strength and independence, and then be against them when they have problems. A Yoruba proverb says, "even if a head makes a mistake, hat is never worn on the buttocks." Let us do what we can to help the Haitian people regain their position of independence and strength. If they can fulfill the destiny they were chosen to play on the world stage, we will all benefit. "How many Awos were lost in this tragedy" We do not know, but we do know that Haiti was one of the centers of Kmtyw religious culture in this hemisphere. As Odu Ifa Irosun Oso says, "Aide iku la nb'Osun, aide iku la nb'Orisha, bi iku ba de, iku o gb'ebo (it is when iku is not yet ready that it works to propitiate Osun, it is when iku is not yet ready that it works to propitiate Orisha, when iku is really ready, iku does not yield to sacrifices. Let us look in the mirror and learn from what the Haitians are suffering; for, they are us.
Pray, work, and prepare for tomorrow.
O di abo.
Bakare