As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Haitian singer Ayiti Coles, known artistically as Ayiiti, has unveiled an ambitious musical project conceptualized as a cultural bridge connecting football, identity, and heritage. Speaking with the editorial team at Le Nouvelliste, the artist explained that the upcoming track is intended to be far more than a simple sports anthem; it is a unifying rally cry for Haiti and its massive global diaspora, arriving exactly 52 years after the country’s historic first World Cup appearance.
The creative process combined a highly experienced team of musicians and producers, including the mythical Rasin (roots) band Boukman Eksperyans, guitarist Paul Beaubrun, and producer T-Ansyto, alongside remote arrangements by Colombian producer Tenso. The backbone of the production relies on Kè m pa sote, Boukman Eksperyans’ legendary 1990 carnival track. To link generations, the song also integrates elements of Zi pim bo w, the original anthem from Haiti’s 1974 World Cup debut. This collective effort yields a unique hybrid track, seamlessly marrying traditional Vodou roots and festive carnival energy with sleek, modern global production.
Ayiiti, who currently lives in Colombia and has spent years in France and Haiti, channels her multicultural background into the song, performing in Haitian Creole, French, and Spanish. The upcoming music video, titled Ayiti nan batay, concludes with a powerful, symbolic sequence featuring crowds under the national colors singing in a traditional, street-level rara style. The artist emphasized that at a time when global media often defines Haiti solely by its ongoing socio-political crises, this track chooses a deeper form of celebration—one that acknowledges national pain but defiantly showcases the country’s artistic excellence and human resilience on the world stage.
