A young girl runs with high protein biscuits during a crowded food distribution by the World Food Program in Port-Au-Prince.  (Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/CARE)

by Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy
Special to the Tri-State Defender

For several years, Yakini Ajanaku Coffy, who has deep roots in Haiti, lived in the Klondike section of North Memphis. She and her husband, Jean Paul Coffy, and their children, Akin and Ade, now live in Chicago. Like many others with Haitian connections, the hours since last week’s earthquake have been all the more painful because of uncertainty about family and friends.

In this account, she shares the pain and gives an account of what one family is doing to bridge the gap of uncertainty.

January 19, 2010

Jean Paul Coffy’s mother who is shown here after the earthquake.

“Greetings.

“As many of you know, we are of Haitian decent. In April of 2001, due to political instability, we relocated from Haiti to Chicago. It was quite unfortunate for us to leave many loved ones behind. We always thought that we would go back, but we settled and started a new life here.

“However, we are still victims of the tragic earthquake that hit Haiti. We have not been able to locate many of our relatives there i.e. (her husband) Coffys’ parents, brothers, and some extended family. His mother had just had surgery and had currently been bedridden; his father had lost sight in one eye. We are aware that they are not mobile.

“Coffy has been able to locate only one brother out of six. We have not located much of our extended family. And unfortunately we got the news that (her daughter) Ade’s Godmother, Madam Nicole Gregoire, was found deceased, buried in her office under the rubble at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Jean Paul Coffy

“After unbearably waiting for responses from our family in Haiti, we as a family decided that there was a dire need for Coffy to go and locate our loved ones. The government, as well as many relief organizations, was urging Haitians and Haitian Americans not to travel to Haiti, given that they cannot supply food and supplies to them. But sitting, constantly watching the tragedy play out on the news was very painful for us. He just needed to go, for the sake of us and our loved ones, to get some conclusive answers.

“He left on Monday, January 18th on a flight to Santo Domingo. It is planned that he will gather supplies in Santo Domingo, water as well as cash supplies from donations we received, and then board a bus to the Dominican Republic to arrive on Wednesday in Port-Au-Prince. We truly feel that this is best.

“Electricity is down and there is a lack of communication due to cell phone signals also being down, but Coffy assured me that he will do his best to keep us informed. He has asked me to compile notes of his whereabouts and experiences through information that he provides to me, as to keep everyone up-to-date.

“Coffy is not only there to locate his immediate family, but his extended family as well. He is sure that with everyone’s support, he will be able to stay strong and do what he is there to do, through this unimaginable experience. And although we are afraid to step into this unknown, we are all very thankful to have friends to help us when we are in the worst of need.

“Many of you have reached out to us letting us know that you are able and willing to help us in any way that you can. Financial support would be the best aid for us at the moment. We know that our extended family in Haiti is suffering beyond belief and unfortunately, we lack the ability to help them in the way that we would like to.

 “I am in the process of setting up a PayPal account in the name of La Grande Famille/Help Haiti Help Itself Relief Fund. We are asking that those of you who would like to offer your support make cash donations toward our cause.”

(The Tri-State Defender vouches for this family’s relief effort. To contribute, visit http://helpcoffy.blogspot.com/)

The Ajanaku-Coffy family (l-r) Akin, Jean Paul Coffy, Ade and Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy. This photo was taken in Haiti a few years ago. (Courtesy photo)

Coffy’s Journey

Special to the Tri-State Defender

The Tri-State Defender is shadowing the emotional odyssey of Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy and her husband, Jean Paul Coffy, both of whom have deep roots in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. For several years, Yakini Ajanaku lived in Memphis’ Klondike Community.

Yakini and Jean Paul, who is commonly called Coffy, have created a blog that includes a chronicle of Coffy’s journey to Haiti to locate family members. He left their home in Chicago on Monday (Jan. 18) on a flight to Santo Domingo, going there because Haiti’s border is closed.

Coffy’s best-case scenario was to arrive in Port-Au-Prince by bus on Wednesday afternoon. Late Wednesday evening, just prior to print deadline, the Tri-State Defender’s executive editor learned that Coffy had not only made it home, he had located his parents.

“Alive barely,” said Yakini, referring to Coffy’s mother,

Yakini is charged with updating the family blog. The following post picks up with Coffy as he prepared for the journey into Port-Au-Prince.

Getting on the bus to Port-Au-Prince…

To board the bus to Port-Au-Prince you must have the following: eight days worth of water and protein drinks, water purification tablets, a flashlight, and a portable tent. If you do not have or are lacking just a few of these items, you are not welcome on the bus. You are considered a liability, and therefore a burden to the crisis in Haiti, if you cannot provide for yourself. The bus depart was delayed due to so many people lacking supplies, including Coffy.

Coffy bought the things he lacked and boarded the bus.

Who is on the bus?

Chip the videographer
Five American doctors
Two Haitian Americans
Jean Paul Coffy

Chip the videographer is headed to Haiti to document the tragic stories that are in abundance and the unreal miracles that lack in happenstance.
Out of everyone on the bus, Chip recognized Coffy. Coffy was once the musical director of a roots music group called Boukman Eksperyans. Their group toured all over the world and acquired a massive fan base. Chip the videographer was a fan.

Five American doctors had just left an expedition in Indonesia. The 7.0 earthquake occurred in Haiti and almost immediately after, they journeyed to Haiti to give as much aid as they can. What are the odds?

Two Haitian Americans with a saddening presence. Noticeably miserable, Coffy made conversation. They are from New York and Miami and seem to be traveling to Port-Au-Prince for the same reason as Coffy, to see if their loved ones are alive and well.

Coffy…(in a recent phone call to Yakini) lets her know that there is absolutely no electricity in the capital of Port-Au-Prince. Confirming both of their beliefs that contact will be at a minimum for some time, if any at all; but letting her know that he loves her and that while he is away, his family and his friends are in his heart.

On the bus…

The trip, by bus, from Santo Domingo is normally eight to ten hours. Due to the debris, the broken roads, alternate routes, and any unexpected circumstances, the trip will be longer.

In the same phone call to Yakini, Coffy states that he does not know what to expect when he gets there. But so far, he has no regrets. He is actually glad that he went. He expresses his gratitude to everyone who has been there for him both morally and financially, stating "without their support, I couldn't go." He wants everyone to know that he is well and that he knows that this experience will change EVERYONE'S life, but most of all, he is thankful.

To contribute to the Coffy’s relief effort, visit http://helpcoffy.blogspot.com