Baby Arrival Messeges

The tap-tap: a stock symbol

Place of meeting, exchange and
expression of popular culture

Port au Prince Haiti, December 2007

Means of locomotion most used Haiti, the tap tap just answer a demand for more and stronger of the Haitian for a relatively fast transportation and cheap. Since the early 90's, or there has been some acceleration of rural exodus towards the capital and major urban centers, these vehicles have increased and are now one of the causes of ill-being Haiti on the road. At the root of many accidents and traffic delays, the tap-taps are still an important meeting place for exchange and expression of Haitian popular culture.
Are you already mounted on a taptap ? It is usually a pickup truck or a converted bus. Cost of transportation? 5 to 10 gourds. Top speed? 30 to 40 km / h. According to the president of the National Union of Artists Tap-Tap Haitian (UNATH), an association of different sectors involved in the construction of Tap-taps, the first pickup truck, was built in Haiti in 1939, designed by a mechanic with Using a German, to connect Port-au-Prince, Petit-Goâve. This first model was dubbed "Mother Mary". Today, there are of all colors and sizes, with all sorts of drawings and enrollment. By tradition, each owner makes his bus with a work of art images, proverbs and quotations. Each tap-tap has its own theme, brainchild of its owner. Blacksmith, carpenter, electrician, painter ... all were set to work to make tap-tap "the term rolling" of the Haitian popular culture. On some tap-taps, we can read: "Jesus, my savior" to listen to religious fields. These churches are fairly common hawkers in the capital and very used to go to his workplace, at school or anywhere elsewhere. Pascale likes to talk when taking a tap-tap, but usually occurs only in discussing or talking about the gospel and the word of God and avoids discussing it any other location, depending his own words, "superficial." There's something for everyone. The youngest can rhyme to the rhythm of Wyclef Jean, the idol of the Haitian public, very popular in Haiti. Every song from Wyclef is like hearing a Simidor, a sort of troubadour version Haitian singing tradition while giving the rate for workers in fields. Maybe the music makes it the driver his job less difficult? In reality, music became a way for drivers to woo passengers and they will not hesitate to put the volume up, risking your eardrums. For many, especially young people, music has become a selection criterion. Bébélia works at the United Nations Logistics Base, near the airport and travels in tap-tap almost daily. She enjoys traveling "with a good sound, but said avoiding tap-taps or the music is too loud.
The love scenes are so widely reproduced on these vehicles. Who has not seen this tap-tap, which flows near the Champs de Mars, with the famous kiss gone with the Vivien Leigh fund wind literally into the arms of Clark Gable? We should not forget the gods as Afro-Haitian Papa Legba, the god who "opens" the gate and passes. The tap-taps his effigy are rare but highly sought after by some travelers.

But tap-taps are also a meeting place or discomforts of the road are shared by all. This is a place where faith is expressed solidarity and ras-le-bol. When this vehicle stops to drop off passengers, hands tend to help people get up, get out, descend or climb. But the opposite attitude is also common and some Passengers will have no qualms about pushing their neighbors in order to clear a small spot. The use made of this means of transportation remains very committed to Haiti and lifestyle found in the tap-tap the same promiscuity, the same ability to take advantage of small spaces. There's always room in a tap-tap, even is crowded. That may be what makes it so dangerous. If passengers are often aware of the danger, they seem like Henry, would indicate that they have no choice: "I've had an accident in the past, but fortunately nothing serious happened. Anyway, it's that or nothing ... I can not afford to go on foot to work ... and the taxi is too expensive "
It is true that the tap-taps no respect for the most fundamental rules of traffic, but it also highlights the lack of the Haitian National Police to enforce these rules. Maybe we could attend in the coming months with the ongoing reform of the Haitian National Police, a change in the use and appearance of tap-taps, evidence that the stock symbol is a reflection of Haitian society and Change it through? In any case, if the tap-tap is a dangerous means of transport and source of many ills in Haitian roads, it nevertheless remains the only mode of cheap transportation (except the bike) and the expression of a popular culture, his influences, aspirations and beliefs.