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The Cultural Difference Of Two Growing Populations
In the article “Vodou Nation: Haitian Art Music And Cultural Nationalism” the author states that “The relationship between cultures can be constructed as oppositional” (“Largey” 106). But in reality cultures that vary from one another can share two or more of the same things whether it may be music, food or even religion. Cultures can also share a few differences such as rituals, fashion and traditions. There are many similarities and differences between Haitian culture and North Indian culture, such as customs, tradition and religion.
There are many similarities between northern Indian music and Haitian music. For one Haitian music and northern Indian music both use modern instruments such as the guitar, organ, electric piano and synthesizer, also both of their music is a reflection of their own community. Macknson Aldor, a young Haitian man that was interviewed, states that “Haitians are very hopeful, cheerful and keen people.” What Mackinson Aldor is saying is that their music is rythmatic and upbeat just like northern Indian music due to their personalities. Although Northern Indian music can sometimes be upbeat they tend to have mellowness to their music every now and then, this is because their music is based on Persian performance and traditional Hindu.
However Haitian music is also completely different from North Indian music, simply because North Indian music comes from a general landscape of Islamic social civilization, which later intertwines with Hindu cultural expression, thus creating Hindustani music. Unlike Haitian music which was derived from Vodou, a Haitian African culture, from those who would criticize local Haitian culture and by those who embodied it as speaking the truths of people (Largey 107). Michael Largely stated that “much of what inspires this process is what largely calls a pan- African consciousness.” He is basically saying that this explains that Haiti formed themselves as an independent nation due to one of the components which was Afro pop. This significantly shows the separation between the two cultures’ origin of music.
Moreover Haitian religion also differs from North Indian religion because who they worship and how they worship is very divergent. For example Michael Largey stated how most Haitians would devote all of their time on “the sinister Bawon Samdi” in English this was translated Baron Saturday, which was a vodou spirit closely associated with death and the cemetery(Largey 106). Unlike the Haitians, Northern Indians religion has a variety of citizens who are Muslim, Shia Muslim, Christian, Ahmadis, zikris, or Hindus. This would mean that they all worshiped someone or something different, rather than worshipping and or celebrating a day like the Haitians.
Not only do the two cultures differ religiously, but they also differ when it comes to food. Carolyn Black who is the author of a book called Hot & Spicy, stated “Mughal Food” consists the following basics of a Northern Indians meal. By this she meant that Mughal Food means typical Indian food that is flavored with chilies, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, black pepper, cumin, coriander and saffron’s (Black). Unlike Haitian food which mainly consists of rice, beans, sweet potatoes, manioc, yams, corn, pigeon peas, cowpeas, bread, coffee and a wheat soy blend. Northern Indian and Haitian foods are unalike mostly because of the different spices and food groups they use.
However North Indian and Haitian foods share numerous amounts of similarities just as much as they share differences. The author states, “after the main course, Pakistanis often eat desserts of fresh or dried fruit, sweets treats would include ras gulla or jalebis” (Black). In other words ras gulla means a cheese ball that has been covered in a sugary syrup and jalebis is made from a batter which is deeply fried and then dipped in a sugary syrup as well. Just like the Indians Haitians would also make sweets to satisfy their sweet tooth as well. The general sweets would include sugar canes, sweet bread, peanut and sesame seed clusters made from melted brown sugar and candies. Even though their sweets taste different than the other the two cultures still share the same taste for something decadent.
Not only is Haitian culture and Indian culture the same when it comes to food, but they are also the same when it comes to beverages. For example, Pakistanis mainly drink tea, either before, after or even in between meals, especially for breakfast. The author said “ Pakistans drink many kinds of tea” (Black). By this she means that Indians, mainly Pakistanis have a variety of teas, one of them being Kashmiri tea. Kashmiri tea is basically a tea that contains raisins and nuts that is normally eaten with bread such as a japati, roti or naan, a type of Indian bread. Just as the Indians have a standard beverage that is known to their culture, so do the Haitians, their beverage is called Crèmas. Crèmas is a beverage that is native to the country of Haiti, it is made from rum, creamed coconuts, evaporated milk and sweet condensed milk. This is why this beverage is extremely sweet, creamy and alcoholic, and it is also the main reason why it is mostly served at events and holidays because of its alcoholic content. Despite their differences in beverages, they are one in the same because it is unique to their culture.
Another difference between the two cultures Haitian and Indian would be tradition. For instance the way the two cultures marry is totally different, the author states “ In Pakistan parents often choose their children’s husband or wives” (Black). When Carolyn Black said this, she meant that it is up to the parents to pick and choose who they would marry, thankfully there are times when this disposition is not made until the pairs agrees to the wedding. Unlike Pakistanis, in order for marriage to be arranged a Haitian man would traditionally request a woman’s father for consent to marry her. Or if the woman does not seem to have a strong relationship with her father than the man who wishes to marry her must ask the mother or mother of the father. This is one of the many differences the two cultures share in tradition.
Not only is their a difference on how the two cultures marry, but the way they get married is different as well. For one Pakistanis do things a lot differently, the author states “at the nikah the bride and groom verbally agree to the marriage and sign papers in front of an imam” (Black). In translation Carolyn Black was saying, at the nikah, which is another word for ceremony, the couple must orally say their vows in front of family, friends, and sign their marriage license in front of an imam, meaning an Islamic worship leader. Once the nikah was done, the couple, their families and guests would celebrate with a feast of Indian food. After all that is done the couple would go home and unwrap their dowry’s, which is a gift from the bride’s parents such as jewelry. Unlike the Pakistanis, Haitians would began their marriage by signing their marriage license in front of a bishop instead of an imam, as well as speak their vows in front their parren and marren, a parren and marren is another word for the best man and maid of honor. It was important for the couple to speak their vows and sign the papers in front of them because they were their witnesses. This was very different from Indians because the Indians used their families, friends and imam for their witnesses; also instead of Indian food the Haitians would serve Creole food at the reception. They did not accept jewelry or money as gifts because it was considered disrespectful and tasteless. This is another perfect example of how Indian and Haitian cultures differed in tradition.
In conclusion, there are so many things that make these two cultures unique and special. The amount of differences that range within the two “world’s most rapidly growing” cultures are quit phenomenal (Moneuman). Whether it may range from tradition; such as: marriage, religion, food or even music; they all share a common ground just in different paths.

Works Cited
Juste, Voregeli, and Sheperd John. “Haitian Popular Music In Montreal: The Effects Of Acculturation”. Popular music 9.1(1990): 79-85. Jstor.org. Web. 6 Feb 2015
Largey, Michael. “Vodou Nation: Haitian Art Music And Cultural Nationalism.” Western Folklore 68.1(2009): 106-107. Jstor.org. Web. 6 Feb 2015
Moneuman, Daniel. “ Indian Music as a Cultural System”. Asian Music 17.1(1998): 98-113. Jstor.org. Web. 6 Feb 2015
Black, Carolyn. “ Hot and Spicy”. Pakistan: The People (2003): 26 Jstor.org. Web. 18 Feb 2015

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