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Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Jan Mapou
Mapou Book Store in Little Haiti, Miami August 9, 2013
Interview ASM0085000034
Interviewed by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis and Ben Morris
Length: 01:34:11
Interview with Jan Mapou (Jean-Marie Denis), an author, playwright, director, and arts advocate. He was one of the founders of the Haitian Kreyòl Movement, which began in Haiti in 1965, and that same year he also created Sosyete Koukouy (Society of Fireflies), a multi-disciplinary arts company dedicated to preserving Haitian cultural traditions and rituals. In 1969, Mapou was jailed by the Duvalier government for his activities promoting Haitian Kreyòl. He immigrated to New York in 1972, before settling in Miami in 1984. He helped found chapters of Sosyete Koukouy in both New York and Miami, and serves as the artistic director. Mapou’s writing legacy includes 2 poetry books, 1 short story, and 8 plays, and he has directed more than 15 plays in Haiti, New York, and Miami. He owns Libreri Mapou (Mapou Bookstore) in Little Haiti, which has one of the largest inventories of titles on Haitian culture and history in the nation. He also hosts two radio programs on education and culture on WLRN Public Radio and has served on numerous boards, including the Miami Book Fair International. He is also the co-founder of the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Folk Life Award from the State of Florida.
This interview is part of the Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu. Jan Mapou 2
August 9, 2013
INTERVIEW OUTLINE
− 00:00:13: Introduction.
− 00:00:45: Let’s get started on this journey – the journey of your life. Tell us a little bit about your childhood, where you were born, your family, your schooling – just tell us something about you.
− 00:22:16: So, the Haitian Kreyòl movement started with you seeing so many students not doing well? How did it evolve? Tell us a little bit more, because we know this is where your heart has always been.
− 00:34:27: So is that the official method to teach kids going to school? Because I didn’t realize that. I know that they’re teaching Kreyòl in the schools, but kids start from kindergarten, let’s say? And their first four years are all in Kreyòl?
− 00:38:47: In the 1960’s, around the time that the [Kreyòl] movement started, is that around the same time that you created Sosyete Koukouy?
− 00:48:07: So they were gathering [imprisoning] everyone from the [Kreyòl] movement?
− 00:50:03: She [Mapou’s mother] actually thought you were dead?
− 00:53:35: They saw it…to them it [Kreyòl] was dangerous?
− 00:55:04: The Kreyòl movement, was it political or literary? Probably both?
− 00:56:04: So finally you got out [of jail] – you got released.
− 01:04:30: How did you manage to get the Kreyòl movement back again?
− 01:13:34: So that started you there, and then, this place here – this Libreri Mapou… is the place people know all about to find Haitian things – literature, artifacts, and everything else. [How did you get this bookstore started?]
− 01:28:33: That’s the message we want to send out – because without culture, without the arts, you don’t have a community. I’ve met so many people whose first entrance to culture was through Sosyete Koukouy. Many of the writers now writing in Haitian Kreyòl in one way or another came through here. That’s quite an accomplishment.
− 01:32:36: It’s such a pleasure talking to you. Is there anything else you want to add?
− 01:34:11: END OF INTERVIEW
Object Description
Description
| Title | Interview Outline |
| Object ID | asm0085000034 |
| Digital ID | asm0085000034 |
| Full Text | Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection Interview with Jan Mapou Mapou Book Store in Little Haiti, Miami August 9, 2013 Interview ASM0085000034 Interviewed by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis Recorded by Javier Carrion Outline by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis and Ben Morris Length: 01:34:11 Interview with Jan Mapou (Jean-Marie Denis), an author, playwright, director, and arts advocate. He was one of the founders of the Haitian Kreyòl Movement, which began in Haiti in 1965, and that same year he also created Sosyete Koukouy (Society of Fireflies), a multi-disciplinary arts company dedicated to preserving Haitian cultural traditions and rituals. In 1969, Mapou was jailed by the Duvalier government for his activities promoting Haitian Kreyòl. He immigrated to New York in 1972, before settling in Miami in 1984. He helped found chapters of Sosyete Koukouy in both New York and Miami, and serves as the artistic director. Mapou’s writing legacy includes 2 poetry books, 1 short story, and 8 plays, and he has directed more than 15 plays in Haiti, New York, and Miami. He owns Libreri Mapou (Mapou Bookstore) in Little Haiti, which has one of the largest inventories of titles on Haitian culture and history in the nation. He also hosts two radio programs on education and culture on WLRN Public Radio and has served on numerous boards, including the Miami Book Fair International. He is also the co-founder of the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Folk Life Award from the State of Florida. This interview is part of the Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor. Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu. Jan Mapou 2 August 9, 2013 INTERVIEW OUTLINE − 00:00:13: Introduction. − 00:00:45: Let’s get started on this journey – the journey of your life. Tell us a little bit about your childhood, where you were born, your family, your schooling – just tell us something about you. − 00:22:16: So, the Haitian Kreyòl movement started with you seeing so many students not doing well? How did it evolve? Tell us a little bit more, because we know this is where your heart has always been. − 00:34:27: So is that the official method to teach kids going to school? Because I didn’t realize that. I know that they’re teaching Kreyòl in the schools, but kids start from kindergarten, let’s say? And their first four years are all in Kreyòl? − 00:38:47: In the 1960’s, around the time that the [Kreyòl] movement started, is that around the same time that you created Sosyete Koukouy? − 00:48:07: So they were gathering [imprisoning] everyone from the [Kreyòl] movement? − 00:50:03: She [Mapou’s mother] actually thought you were dead? − 00:53:35: They saw it…to them it [Kreyòl] was dangerous? − 00:55:04: The Kreyòl movement, was it political or literary? Probably both? − 00:56:04: So finally you got out [of jail] – you got released. − 01:04:30: How did you manage to get the Kreyòl movement back again? − 01:13:34: So that started you there, and then, this place here – this Libreri Mapou… is the place people know all about to find Haitian things – literature, artifacts, and everything else. [How did you get this bookstore started?] − 01:28:33: That’s the message we want to send out – because without culture, without the arts, you don’t have a community. I’ve met so many people whose first entrance to culture was through Sosyete Koukouy. Many of the writers now writing in Haitian Kreyòl in one way or another came through here. That’s quite an accomplishment. − 01:32:36: It’s such a pleasure talking to you. Is there anything else you want to add? − 01:34:11: END OF INTERVIEW |
| Type | Text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Archive | asm0085000034.pdf |
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