Minis Zaka Makomè Dear friend Si genyen Leta If at all there are state officials Genyen LetaIt’s the onestate official Minis ZakaCalled Minister Zaka Nanpwen Jistis oThere is no justice Prete m yon chèzLend me a chair Pou m chitaSo I can sit Pou m gade yo And observe them Peyi a pou yoThe country is in their hands Y a fè sa yo vlethey’ll do whatever they will Adopted from RAMAn interpretation Instead of saying Makomè, RAM sings it as Jakomè meaning the City of Jacmel. Makomè appears in other published versions.RAM also says ki genyen leta instead of si genyen leta. As with many traditional songs there are numerous variations in keeping with the theme.We are reviewing this song about Zaka Mede to honor international Labor Day in May. Zaka or Azaka is the personification of the hard-working and self-sustaining African and Haitian farmer. These farmers compete on the global market with many disadvantages:
·They are hurt by the price reducing subsidies given to American and to European farmers. ·They lack fertilizer, irrigation, and machinery used by their competitors in richer nations. ·They lack refrigeration, and much of their products rot before reaching the world’s markets. Haitian and African farmers go on farming the rocky top soil equipped with their know-how, machetes, and work ethic. Lacking government assistance, they rely on assets passed down to them from generations before.The knowledge, the tools, and the perseverance are ancestral gifts embodied in Zaka Mede. Zaka is the patron spirit of Agriculture and Mede is an ethnic group from Sierra Leone whose expertise in agriculture is legendary.During the 17th century, they were particularly known for their knowledge in rice production.It is in honor of them that in Haiti, Zaka carries the name Zaka Mede. To accentuate that ancestral help is all the assistance that the Haitian farmer has, Zaka Mede is given the title Minis,Minister of Agriculture. Presumably, past governments have not provided assistance to augment national agricultural production. The only help that the Haitian farmers receive is the skills passed down to them from their forebears.Essentially, all their help is from Zaka, so it is fitting that they have recognized Zaka as the real Minister of Agriculture. The song explains that if ever there was a government in Haiti, then it is Zaka.As it is Zaka alone who provides agricultural help, the other government posts are essentially vacant. Other songs put it more bluntly. One such song says we are going to nominate Zaka to all government positions: Nou pral nonmen Zaka depite, nou pral nonmen Zaka senatè, nou pral nonmen Zaka majistra. If it were more widely recognized that the title Minister given to Zaka is also a criticism of the government, perhaps those in positions of power would work even harder to assist the farmers of Haiti. It is indeed because the meaning of the song is somewhat camouflaged that this song is a chante pwen.
In fairness, the Haitian government has at times tried to provide assistance but the aid rarely trickles down to those who need it. For this reason, the farmers continue to send their message to those in power while keeping watch of the corruption. This is said as“ prete m yon chèz pou m chita pou m gade yo.”
References and analysis of other Haitian songs and traditions are provided in these books published by Bookmanlit:
Remembrance: Roots, Rituals, and Reverence in Vodou.English Edition Sèvis Ginen: Rasin, Rityèl, Respè lan Vodou. Creole Edition Bicentennial: Haiti’s Gift to the World.English Edition Bisantnè: Zetrenn Ayiti Pou Limanite.Creole Edition
Watch the You Tube video of RAM's rendition of Minis Zaka