Cap-Haïtien theater company ‘Kay’Art’ revives untold history of Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ assassination | Photos

Cap-Haitien — Taking a page from Haiti’s historical past, the theater troupe Kay’Art is bringing lesser-known moments of history and long-ignored figures back into focus, starting with the death of freedom fighter and liberator Jean-Jacques Dessalines on Oct. 17, 1806, a chapter still marked by unanswered questions.

On Oct. 9, at the auditorium of Collège Notre-Dame du Cap-Haïtien, the group presented its original play, “Dessalines, Haine ou Ambition de pouvoir” or “Dessalines, Hatred or a Drive for Power,” to revive these forgotten fragments of history. The play overseen by historians, including Angelot Bell, is the troupe’s attempt to highlight details and perspectives rarely documented in archives and represented in mainstream teachings about Jean-Jacques Dessalines’s assassination on Oct. 17, 1806.

“Dessalines is the father of the nation, yet very few documents detail the circumstances of his assassination,” said Kay’Art’s president, Chris Withersny Bell.

The play also explores the motivations of the generals involved in killing the head of state, including their internal conflicts and the political pressures of the young republic. Some believed that difficult decisions were necessary to secure the future of the young Republic, Kay’Art play producers say.

“The goal is not to justify [Generals] General Alexandre Pétion, General Henry Christophe, or others involved, but to present the context in which their decisions were made,” Chris, also a member of the production team, said to The Haitian Times.

For some of the actors, the process highlighted how much of Haiti’s early history remains fragmented. Dave Barnard Audigé, one of the actors, said his role confronted him with the many gaps in Haiti’s historical narrative.

 “Playing Dessalines helped me realize how little we truly know about Haiti’s history, and how many omissions exist. Anyone who attended the play can see how much remains unsaid,” he told The Haitian Times.

One scene that drew strong reactions was the portrayal of Dessalines’s relationship with Euphémie Daguilh, depicted as the mother of his last child. The play presents one historical interpretation suggesting she may have collaborated with General Yayou in the plot that led to the ambush of Dessalines at Pont-Rouge, Port-au-Prince — a moment the troupe says illustrates how many competing narratives still exist.

The production also incorporated folkloric dance sequences, connecting the performance to Haiti’s cultural traditions. Among the most talked-about scenes was the depiction of Dessalines’s final moments at Pont-Rouge. A spectator described the staging as symbolizing “the presence of spirits guiding Dessalines — and the moment he seemed ready to part with them.”

Kay’Art was founded in November 2023, and troupe members say their mission is to revive theater in the north while bringing lesser-known parts of Haitian history to younger audiences. Their latest play, they say, is only the beginning.

Below are the photos from Kay’Art play:

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