Little Haiti Book Festival Online!

Haitian Carnival: Art, Culture, Religion (Kanaval nan Peyi Dayiti) with award-winning writer Edwidge Danticat and Reverend  Nathanael Saint-Pierre. Moderated by Lochard Noel, PhD. Includes special segments with artist Stephen Arboite and Haitian radio personality Severe Livincoeurs from WSRF.

Carnival, called Madigra (Mardi-Gras) in Haiti, is a cultural event that is not to be missed. The population of Haiti, from the very poor to the very wealthy, dresses up in their brightest clothes and parades to the rhythms of Konpa music. Madigra has a long history. This celebration originated in Europe, and was brought to the New World, where it blended with Native-American traditions during colonization. Madigra in Haiti is a national celebration. Every town has its own version of Madigra, from decorated floats rolling past with beautiful queens waving to the crowds, to live bands, marching musical groups, to colorful traditional costumes… Everyone sings, dances, and unwinds. But beyond the fun, there is a serious component to Madigra. It is also a time for the people to relay their demands and criticism with short plays and lyrics directed at political figures.

In this panel discussion, we will talk about the fun parts of Madigra, but also look at some of the more serious aspects of the celebration.

Kanaval, ki gen non Madigra nan peyi Dayiti, se yon evennman kiltirèl pèsonn pa ka rate. Se tout popilasyon ayisyen an, malere kou lelit ki degize ak bèl kostim plen koulè e k ap defile sou kadans mizik konpa. Madigra la lontan. Selebrasyon sa a soti nan kontinan Ewòp, epi se kolon yo ki te mennen li rantre nan Nouvo Monn lan kote li vin brase ak tradisyon endyen yo. Madigra nan peyi Dayiti se yon selebrasyon nasyonal. Chak vil gen estil madigra pa li, cha dekore k ap pase avèk bèl rèn k ap voye men bay foul la, djaz k ap jwe, bann apye, kostim tradisyonèl tout koulè… Tout moun ap chante, danse, defoule konsyans yo.  Anplis de plezi an, gen yon eleman serye nan Madigra tou. Se epòk tou kote pèp la fè pase revandikasyon ak kritik li ak ti pyès teyat ak chante pwent pou atake ofisyèl politik yo.

Nan panèl diskisyon sa a, nou pral pale de pati detant la nan Madigra, men n ap gade tou kèk nan aspè pi serye selebrasyon an.

The Little Haiti Book Festival is part of Miami Book Fair’s ReadCaribbean programs, sponsored in part by the Green Family Foundation, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.