Djaloki's bio (English)
DJALÒKI'S BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
- Updated November 8, 2004 -
Office e-mail: doabn@haiti.maf.net
Organisation's web site: www.haititravels.org
Personal blog: djaloki.blog.com
Djalòki N.J.L.B. Dessables was born in 1961, in Bruxelles, Belgium, but his parents, Necker Dessables and Yolande Benjamin, both Ayitians (Haitians), immediately officialized his Ayitian1 citizenship by registering him at the Ayitian1 embassy in Bruxelles. Djalòki's parents come from the two most extreme ends of Ayitian1 society. When they married in 1958, this situation was exceptional and still is today.
On his father's side, Djalòki traces his ancestry to Africa, through slaves and possibly maroons. The family settled in Leyogàn, formerly Yagwàna - prestigious capital of the Taino kingdom of Zaragwa, and now a stronghold of Vodou, notably with its famous "Rara". Genetically and culturally, these relatives are strongly African. Most of them are peasant; they speak Ayitian1 Creole, practice Vodou (or reject ancestral Vodou by converting to U.S.-based protestant churches), have dark black skin and are economically and socially under-privileged. Many of them have been conditioned to believe they are of an inferior race.
On his mother's side, Djalòki traces his ancestry to Europe, with plausible connections to slave owners. The family settled in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Ayiti1 (Haiti). These relatives are members of the elite class of the nation. Genetically and culturally, they are partly European. They speak French at home, practice Roman Catholicism, have light or white skin and are usually economically and socially privileged. Many people in the same social class have been conditioned to believe they are of a superior race.
Djalòki has reasons to believe he also has Taino Amerindian ancestors, as many Ayitians1 unknowingly do.
Djalòki was raised in Europe (Belgium) and Africa (Senegal) where he completed grade school. He was graduated in 1985 as a mechanical engineer from the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées in Lyon, France and later took additional training in business administration and consulting. All of the above influences are part of Djalòki's current character. He speaks and writes Ayitian1 Creole and French fluently, English and Spanish as 3rd and 4th languages and retains some notions of Wolof.
Djalòki has traveled and resided in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, as well as North, Central and South America. He worked several years in the corporate business world, notably as a Total Quality Manager with The Shell Company, in Ayiti1. He is the father of a 17-year-old daughter and is presently residing in Ayiti1. His current activities and projects include:
- DOA/BN (associate):
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- Raising cross-cultural awareness and respect
- Language and culture translation
- Cross-cultural transformational travels
- Web site http://www.haititravels.org/
- "N a Sonje" Foundation (co-founder):
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- Awakening the memory of historical cultures around the Atlantic Ocean
- Addressing the present and potential impact of the Amerindian, African, and European convergence
- Historical re-enactment
- Web site : see the Memory Village page on http://www.haititravels.org/
- "21 Jenerasyon" (founder) :
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- Drawing from ancient primordial cultures and spiritualities to help create a sustainable multicultural post-modern society in balance with herself, Nature and the Cosmos and practicing reverence for the unity of Life by respecting its manifest diversity
- International public speaking on cross-cultural and cross-spiritual awareness and respect
- "Chimen Memwa/Memory Lane" (co-founder) :
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- Alternative historical/cultural radio show in Ayiti1
- Teaching and promoting the use of Ayitian1 Creole within Ayitian1 society
- Personal research on primordial and traditional spirituality (animism, shamanism, Ayitian1 Vodou, African Vodun, Hawaiian Huna, Native Amerindian Ways, European Wicca, Rosicrucianism, Rastafari, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, etc )
- Djalòki is fascinated by the enormous potential of the Human Being, both at the individual and collective level. His interests include music (Reggae, Salsa, Ayitian1 Rasin, Ayitian1 Konpa, Vodou and African music), dance, meditation, Guided Imagery and Interactive Guided Imagery, philosophy, science, linguistics, history, psychology, parapsychology, art, cultural diversity, spirituality and the mind.
(1) Ayitian: Haitian "Free spelling" following the native Creole spelling of "Haiti": Ayiti.
(2) Maroons: former slaves - escapees from the slavery system, or their descendants, usually living free in the mountains (Ayitian meaning).
(3) Rara: Vodou "marching" bands taking to the streets during the season of Lent.
(4) cultural key: A vital skill in surviving developed through generations by the people of a given culture;
all cultures have keys useful or necessary for other cultures;
no one culture has all the keys it needs to express its highest potential;
cultural keys must be exchanged multi-laterally through mutual respect in order for humanity to survive.
