HAITI WEEKLY by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO

HAITI WEEKLY by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO

Share this post

HAITI WEEKLY by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO
HAITI WEEKLY by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO
#55 - Saut-Mathurine: The Highest Waterfalls in the Country

#55 - Saut-Mathurine: The Highest Waterfalls in the Country

Discovering Saut-Mathurine, master photographers train the next generation, Yani Martelly throws water, theater about childhood on the streets, Oloffson Hotel burning, and Pacot on the front line

Jean Elie FORTINE's avatar
Etienne COTE-PALUCK's avatar
Jean-Paul SAINT FLEUR's avatar
Jean Elie FORTINE
,
Etienne COTE-PALUCK
, and
Jean-Paul SAINT FLEUR
Jul 31, 2025
∙ Paid
4

Share this post

HAITI WEEKLY by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO
HAITI WEEKLY by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO
#55 - Saut-Mathurine: The Highest Waterfalls in the Country
2
Share
Photo: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn Enfo

Welcome to the base of the majestic Saut-Mathurine Falls, the tallest in Haiti. All this and more in issue #55 of HAITI WEEKLY by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO.

HAITI WEEKLY by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Editor's note: We are pleased to announce the addition of a new team member. Steeven Andris, who is based in Jacmel, is joining us as an online community manager. He will help strengthen the social media presence of DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO and HAÏTI MAGAZINE. Welcome to the team, Steevy!

Summary #55

  1. Discovering Saut-Mathurine

  2. When Master Photographers Train the Next Generation in the South

  3. Music Video of the Week: Voye Dlo by Yani Martelly

  4. The Reality of Street Children, at the Theater in Jacmel

  5. Fire at the Oloffson Hotel: the End of a Symbol

  6. The Front Lines of Resistance in Pacot and Kenscoff

  7. Press Reviews

Discovering Saut-Mathurine

Children at the Saut-Mathurine waterfalls. Photo: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn Enfo

Although all regions of Haiti are full of impressive waterfalls, none can match the power of Saut-Mathurine Falls, the country’s highest. Located in Camp-Perrin (South), the falls reach a height of 27 meters (89 feet). A series of pools and waterfalls precede them, offering an unforgettable natural spectacle.

Photo: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn Enfo

The flow rate of the waterfall varies depending on rainfall and the operation of the hydroelectric dam located upstream. During rainy weather, the water sometimes spreads out over several meters.

Photos: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn Enfo

This crystal-clear water is perfect for swimming. Like many other springs across the country, this site is steeped in voodoo practices and serves as a place of worship and relaxation.

When Master Photographers Train the Next Generation in the South

Pierre Michel Jean, left, and some of the participating photographers. Photo: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn Enfo

For six weeks, our director of photography, Jean Elie Fortiné, participated in an intensive training course in Les Cayes alongside 13 photographers from the Grand Sud and Port-au-Prince. The course was led by three giants of Haitian photography: Pierre Michel Jean, Josué Azor, and Réginald “Ray Pa Klè” Louissaint of the KD2 collective.

A stroll through the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes. Photo: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn

Participants crisscrossed the region with their mentors, refining their vision and perfecting their craft, from Île-à-Vache to Saut-Mathurine via the Cayes Botanical Garden.

At the foot of the falls. Photo: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn

The Port-au-Prince Centre d’Art organized this training program, which enabled experienced photographers to deepen their knowledge in an atmosphere of sharing and creativity.

Photos: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn Enfo

Music Video of the Week

Voye dlo - Yani Martelly feat. Tonymix, Florence El Luche & Isemylee

Six years after the huge success of Gen Bagay, Yani Martelly is back with Voye dlo, which is already proving to be the hit of the 2025 summer 2025 in Haiti.

This light and catchy track is taking over the streets, public transportation, grocery stores, and DJ parties. Martelly, the son of former president and singer Michel Martelly, has teamed up with two singers, Florence El Luche and Isemylee, as well as popular producer TonyMix.

“Tomorrow is a day off, tonight is a sleepless “night”[in English],” he announces at the beginning of the song, before launching into a chorus full of double entendres mixing sensual allusions with summer euphoria. “I'm going to throw water, I'm going to splash water, then we'll go swimming.”

The Reality of Street Children, at the Theater in Jacmel

Caonie Midaël Saint-Vil on stage in Jacmel. Photo: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn

In anticipation of its first edition, the Festival des Îles qui Marchent (July 19-20) presented the play Le bal de l’incontinence, directed by Ar Guens Jean Mary, at the Alliance Française in Jacmel in June.

From left to right, Carls Edzer Lazare, Mardochée Luxama, Marline Bochand, Caonie Midaël Saint-Vil et Shyline Nadza Lafond. Photo: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn

Djevens Fransaint’s text tells the story of a family whose daughter befriends a young man living on the streets. Though initially suspicious, the mother eventually accepts the friendship and gradually integrates the boy into family life.

However, the father is fiercely opposed to it. He locks his daughter in the house to prevent her from going out, which plunges the family into a dramatic spiral that leads to a tragic end.

Photos: Jean Elie Fortiné / Dèyè Mòn Enfo

With sensitivity and dramatic tension, the play explores how marginalized children are viewed. A large portion of Jacmel’s theater community—including actors, technicians, and volunteers—mobilized to bring this powerful text to the stage.

Fire at the Oloffson Hotel: the End of a Symbol

Arcade Fire in concert at the Oloffson in 2011. Photo: Etienne Côté-Paluck / Dèyè Mòn Enfo

Members of our team collaborated with the British daily newspaper The Guardian to pay tribute to the Oloffson Hotel. The hotel burned down in early July amid a conflict zone between Bas-Peu-de-Chose and Carrefour-Feuilles, just a stone's throw from Pacot.

Peut être une image de ‎texte : « ‎News Opinion World Sport Europe The Int Guardian Lifestyle Culture US news Americas Asia Australia Middle East Africa Inequalit Global developmen Haiti How destruction ofHotel Oloffson is symbol Haiti's gang crisis Once haven for the world's rich and famous, the landmark hotel was burned down this month as violence gripped Port-au-Prince Prince ه The Oloffson hotel's design was one fth the most famous of of the gothic gingerbread style. It became a andmark Portau- -Prince, Haiti. Photograph raph: Jenny Matthews/Alamy EtteneCoté-PaluckandNaticaDunca and Etienne Côté-Paluck Duncan‎ »‎

The Oloffson, a legendary venue in Haitian cultural life, has now become a symbol of a capital city torn apart by armed conflict, where cultural landmarks are crumbling one by one.

The Front Lines of Resistance in Pacot and Kenscoff

Image
Displaced persons camp in the former Rex theater at Champ-de-Mars in Port-au-Prince in mid-July. Photo: Clarens Siffroy / Dèyè Mòn Enfo

After our office in Port-au-Prince was hastily closed due to armed violence three months ago, we were able to return last week. The resumption of regional flights also allowed us to repatriate part of our team that had been stranded in Jacmel.

Resistance groups have grown stronger in recent weeks in the Pacot neighborhood and surrounding areas. According to our sources, donations of weapons and money have bolstered local defense capabilities.

Al Jazeera Live News with Imran Khan, Al Jazeera, June 28, 2025

Last Tuesday, armed criminal groups took over the Prince Hotel and its surroundings. Despite interventions by the police and self-defense brigades, this area is reportedly still in their hands.

24/60 with Madeleine Blais-Morin, RDI, July 3, 2025

On Saturday, armed men fired shots on Babiole Street and fled, pursued by members of the brigades and the police. Dozens of shots were fired. An elderly person died in an inner courtyard where the attackers had taken refuge. Three other people are reportedly missing and possibly kidnapped.

Early Monday morning, a dozen drones exploded over the capital, shaking the entire city.

Peut être une image de 4 personnes et texte : « News Opinion World Sport Europe The Int Guardian Lifestyle Culture Americas Asia Australia Middle East Africa Inequality Global devel lopment Haiti 'The ground shook': drone attacks help Haitian government wrest control of capital from criminal gangs Video shared on social media shows drone attacks, which some say have helped pacify gangs inflicting violence on Port-a Prince Warning: story contains footage that readers might distressing 0 drone launchec during Haitian police operation against armed gangsin hht:.ipwee/e Por November 2024. Photograph: Patrice Noel/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/ wirejhek/Shutterstock Etienne Côté- Côté-Paluck, Paluck, Manisha Ganguly and' T'om Phillips -Prince 28 »

Fighting continues further up the mountain in Kenscoff and Furcy. A recent counteroffensive by Haitian forces reportedly allowed them to regain ground for the first time by using a helicopter in a security operation. However, the situation remains unclear, and it is uncertain which areas are actually controlled by the authorities outside the center of the commune.

At A Glance: Tropicana at a Country Fair

The legendary Orchestre Tropicana d'Haïti performed at an intimate country festival in the north. Our colleague, Ketlain Difficile, was there and captured this warm musical moment.

DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO’s team

Photojournalists: Francillon Laguerre, Sonson Thelusma, Andoo Lafond, Milot Andris, Patrick Payin, Steevy Andris, Ketlain Difficile
Community manager: Steven Andris
Editorial board: Etienne Côté-Paluck, Jean Elie Fortiné, Jean-Paul Saint-Fleur
Interns: Wilky Andris, Donley Jean Simon
Special collaboration: Stéphanie Tourillon-Gingras, Mateo Fortin Lubin
Media partners: Centre à la Une, J-COM, Nord-Est Info
Institutional partners: Kay Fanm, Mouka.ht

How Does Your Contribution Help?

Your monthly support helps to finance the production and pay the salaries of the DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO staff in the communities of Cité-Soleil, Port-au-Prince and Cayes-Jacmel. In addition, donations are regularly distributed for medical expenses, school fees and other emergencies in these communities.

Press Reviews

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to HAITI WEEKLY by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share