More than 800 people have been killed and much of Haiti has been destroyed by Hurricane Matthew.

Haiti is a country that is, sadly, very used to being in crisis.

In 2010 an earthquake caused devastation and over the years many tropical storms have left a trail of destruction.

But Haiti is a very proud nation and Haitians, including DJ Christo, who now lives in south London, want you to see the country behind the news headlines.

'We were the first black, independent country in the whole world'

"We feel like we actually created freedom and set the examples for the other countries," says DJ Christo.

That's not the only pioneering thing Haiti can claim.

'One city in Haiti was the first in the Caribbean to have electricity'

DJ Christo explains that before the recent natural disasters there were many cinemas, theatres, art galleries, museums, nightclubs and bars.

"One of the main things we did for fun is go to the beach," he tells Newsbeat.

"There were DJs playing all the time, every weekend."

'There is art everywhere'

DJ Christo says music is at the centre of Haitian culture.

Rasin is roots music which began in Haiti in the 1970s and is one of the five genres he credits the country with.

"But whether you do music or are in the food industry, whatever we do in Haiti has some art in it," he says.

"Even the public transport and the cars are painted with lots of different things."

'We have great food'

Djon Djon is rice made with mushroom and is a traditional Haitian dish.

"We'd usually have that on a Sunday - it's a more luxurious meal for those who can afford it," says DJ Christo.

"We have a very rich gastronomy and you will definitely find a lot of things you've not tried before."

'We have a beautiful country'

"There are a lot of mountains and we have beautiful beaches."

"And yeah, we have fantastic weather as well. It's always sunny and hot... even in December."

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