The United Nations cultural agency (UNESCO) has inscribed tradition Haitian dish Joumou Soup on its prized intangible cultural heritage list on 16 December 2021.

Key Points
• Also known as giraumon soup, Haitian soup is widely considered as a symbol of Haitian independence.
• According to UNESCO, the soup is “so much more than just a dish”.
• Joumou Soup tells the story of the heroes and heroines of Haitian independence, their struggle for human rights and their hard-won freedom.
• The dish is a squash-based soup and it became a symbol of things long forbidden to slaves under the French domination until Haiti gained independence from France in 1804. Haiti become the world’s first free Black republic.

• The Haitian independence resulted in the first country created by insurgent Black slaves.

• Haitians celebrated their freedom by consuming the soup.

Soup joumou
• Soup joumou is made of pumpkin, vegetables, plantains, meat, pasta and spices.

• Haitians traditionally serve the soup on New Year’s Day, the country’s Independence Day, to commemorate the anniversary of liberation from slavery.