K’naan’s hit song, “Wavin’ Flag” became his biggest hit after he released it in 2009; it even became the key theme and official song in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, the lyrics painted a story of suffering and poverty amidst a nationwide disaster.
This story was the reality for Haiti.
One January afternoon, a massive earthquake of 7.0 magnitude hit close to Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince and affected a third of Haiti’s population. What made things worse was the already unstable infrastructure, which led to massive damage of nearby buildings. It was estimated that about 300,000 people lost their lives as a result of the disaster. Families lost their homes and education, because those buildings were no longer usable. Although volunteers from other countries offered help and aid, Haiti’s slow technological advancements made rescue and support difficult to execute.
Even today in 2020, Haitian citizens suffer financially in the poorest country in the western hemisphere. In 2018, there were still 38,000 citizens living in displacement homes. The damage continues to linger through lack of funding, aid, and education, and could affect them for the many years to come.
Although current events are important to keep in mind in this day and age, it is equally as valuable to recognize issues of the past, for they paint a bigger story and reveal indirect causes of current problems. It is entirely possible today’s girls in Haiti lack education because of this disaster. For readers who didn’t know or experience much regarding Haiti’s 2010 earthquake prior to seeing this blog, thank you for your continued engagement regarding both historic and current issues.
It should be noted that K’naan’s original intention for his song was to express the horrors of the Somali civil war, which he experienced firsthand. Less than a year later, a group of Canadian artists along with producer Bob Erzin recorded an exclusive version of “Wavin’ Flag” to remember Haiti’s tragic incident.
(Photo taken by Heartstone Village)
Written by Trista Yu, Editorial Director
Sources
https://www.worldvision.ca/stories/disaster-relief/2010-haiti-earthquake
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/massive-earthquake-strikes-haiti
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB7L1BIDELc&list=TLPQMjQwOTIwMjDAhWAfvTb4WQ&index=4
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