On Monday, July 13, 2026, the Rectorate of the State University of Haiti hosted an exceptional discussion with academician Dany Laferrière on the theme "The Childhood of a Writer".

Organized as part of the writer's tour of Haiti at the invitation of the State University of Haiti, this meeting brought together students, professors, and university officials for a rich exchange on literature, memory, and creative expression.

In his opening remarks, Rector Dieuseul Prédélus emphasized the symbolic significance of this visit for the university. He stated that "the State University of Haiti cannot be limited to academic training alone. It is also the guardian of the memory and imagination of the people. Haitian literature constitutes a heritage that the university has a duty to document, teach, and promote." Furthermore, beyond the tribute paid to the academician, Prédélus announced the State University of Haiti's (UEH) commitment to strengthening ties between academia and literary creation. He believes it is essential to include Haitian works in our libraries, master's theses, doctoral dissertations, and conferences. He took the opportunity to encourage students to fully embrace this opportunity for dialogue with one of Haiti's most widely read writers, a writer who is a part of us.

From the outset, the writer Dany Laferrière, deeply moved, expressed his profound gratitude for being received for the first time in Haiti in an official capacity by a state university institution, adding that this recognition from his native country held particular significance for him.

Reflecting on the genesis of "L’Odeur du café" Dany explained that the book had remained within him for a long time before it was written. "I spent my childhood in Petit-Goâve, a few kilometers from Port-au-Prince." For the writer, this opening sentence sums up an essential rule of writing : start simply. He recounted how rediscovering the name Petit-Goâve revealed to him the full poetic power of his childhood home. At the heart of this childhood is the figure of his grandmother, Da, sitting on the porch with her coffee pot.

During this discussion led by Professor Darline Alexis and Master’s student in Literature Francesca Mintor, Dany Laferrière observed that his grandmother didn’t tell traditional tales, but stories of everyday life, populated by real people. It was from her that he learned the art of pausing the narrative, creating suspense, and captivating the listener.

When asked about the role of politics and crises in his work, Dany Laferrière explained that he had chosen not to let misfortune dominate his imagination. "I can’t be both the disease and the cure," he said. Discussing both racism in North America and the dictatorship in Haiti, he asserted that writers sometimes need to "step back" to continue seeing the people, gestures, and details that make up real life.

Throughout the meeting, the author delivered a veritable writing lesson to the students."Don’t explain. Show," he advised them. For Laferrière, a vivid image is worth more than a lengthy commentary. He gave the example of the rain in Petit-Goâve and that "thirty-sixth row of bricks" where passersby stop to avoid getting wet, a concrete detail that immediately brings the scene to life for the reader.

Discussing his Vava series, the academician championed a demanding approach to children's literature. He remains convinced that children are more intelligent readers than we are. To illustrate this, he explained that a child can reread the same book dozens of times and discover details invisible to adults.

Answering students' questions about nostalgia, the solitude of the writer, and the challenges of creating in the current Haitian context, Dany Laferrière emphasized that writing remains a profoundly personal experience. He encouraged young authors to be wary of artifice, to eliminate unnecessary sentences, and to trust their own perspective on the world. "Kill your cherished sentences when they slow down the narrative," he advised the young students.

The discussion took place in a friendly atmosphere. Following the formal exchanges, the writer attempted to answer the students' numerous questions. Dany Laferrière didn't just talk about his childhood; he also offered the university community a profound reflection on memory, creative freedom, and the power of literature as a space for resistance and self-invention. A truly immersive morning in culture !

HL/ HaitiLibre