Haiti’s northern region has formally opened its slate of centennial celebrations honoring iconic Haitian writer René Depestre, launching the regional program on Friday, April 17, 2026 with a curated retrospective exhibition at Cap-Haïtien’s Musée de la Monnaie (Museum of the Mint).
The exhibition uses immersive informational panels to guide visitors through the extraordinary dual literary and political career of Depestre, best known for his groundbreaking work *Alléluia pour une femme-jardin* (Hallelujah for a Woman-Garden). The launch event brought together cultural leaders, literary institutions, and community members to honor Depestre’s enduring legacy as one of Haiti’s most influential cultural voices.
In his opening remarks to attendees, Marc Exavier, national coordinator for the centennial celebration year, shared exciting news for literary audiences: a newly reissued complete collection of Depestre’s poetic works, titled *Rage de vivre* (Rage to Live), has just been released and featured in French literary media. The reissue brings Depestre’s powerful poetry back into print for a new generation of readers.
Alteery Maxi Marc, director of Cap-Haïtien’s Alliance Française, used the occasion to highlight Depestre’s lasting contributions to Caribbean and world literature while drawing attention to the critical role of reading in youth development. Speaking on behalf of Ernst Saint Louis, director general of Haiti’s National Book Directorate (DNL), Stephania Duchel extended formal gratitude to the network of partner cultural institutions that made the launch event and larger centennial program possible. She also reaffirmed the DNL’s long-standing commitment to its core mission: expanding access to books and fostering a culture of reading across every region of Haiti.
The opening celebration was enriched by live performances, with actors Micken Jeanite and Billy Desir delivering dramatic readings of selections from Depestre’s most beloved works. Adding to the festive atmosphere, Haitian jazz ensemble Stars 262 provided musical entertainment throughout the event.
Notable guests in attendance included Fritz Alphonse Jean, former presidential transitional advisor; Angélique Jules Verdilus, director of the Museum of the Mint; and Alteery Maxi Marc, representing the Alliance Française. The nationwide centennial initiative first launched on August 29, 2025, and will run through August 29, 2026, with events planned across multiple Haitian cities to bring Depestre’s work to new audiences.
For audiences interested in engaging further with Haitian literary culture, three interactive educational games focused on Haitian literature are available for public access at https://quiz.haitilibre.com/en, located under the Haiti “Literature” menu. The event was reported by iciHaiti.