Ethnicity, Language, & Religion of Haiti
WARNING: Safety is a concern in Haiti, please read this travel warning before going!
Ethnicity
Nearly all of Haiti considers itself of African descent, many of whose ancestors were brought to the region by the slave trade. These slaves came from all parts of Africa, but it seems most arrived from what is today known as the Congo, Benin, and Nigeria. Many of these people are a combination of ethnicities though, including ethnic Africans with scant traces of ethnic Europeans and American Indians.
Language
Both French and creole are official languages in Haiti, although most people tend to speak creole as their native language. This language is similar to French, but has numerous foreign introductions, most notably from English. The people generally speak creole amongst themselves, but use the more formalized French in official settings, such as business and schools.