Playlist: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans 'Kanaval,' a three-part audio documentary, explores Haiti's influence on NOLA Monday, February 1, 2021 Win Butler (L) of Arcade Fire and DJ Michael Brun participate in the Krewe du Kanaval parade on February 15, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Erika Goldring / Courtesy of the photographer Much of what distinguishes New Orleans today from other American cities can be traced back to French and African influences from Haiti. The cultural ties go back more than 200 years, when 10,000 free and enslaved people left what was then the French colony of Saint Domingue during the country's revolution. NOLA's multi-cultural DNA is its calling card, and it's reflected in the food, architecture, art, and most notably, music.