After the arrival of the Spaniards in 1492, the native Taino population dwindled due to the hard work and diseases brought by the Europeans. To exploit the island's resources, the Spanish and French forcibly brought African slaves to Haiti. The slaves rebelled and in 1804 declared their independence, founding the world's first black republic. The majority of black Haitians today are of West African descent, with significant roots among the Fon, Akan, Yoruba, Igbo, Kongo, and Mandinka peoples.

In this video, we will take a detour through Africa to better understand the ethnic origins and history of the Africans who will take possession of the island of Haiti after the Battle of Vertière.