Join us for an immersive celebration of Haitian culture and the enduring legacy of Jean-Michel Basquiat, an influential artist whose work continues to inspire generations. Through art, music, and interactive experiences, delve into the vibrant spirit of Haiti and explore the profound impact of Basquiat’s art on contemporary culture.
This event offers a unique opportunity to honor the rich cultural heritage of Haiti while paying homage to one of the most significant figures in the art world. Featured guests include DJ Gardy, DJ Bullet, NSFL Dance Ensemble, Tradisyon Lakou Lakay, Awoze Twoubadou, and Rara Lakay.
About DJ Gardy Girault
Innovative Haitian DJ, music producer, and singer, Gardy Girault built his reputation in the mid-2010s with a distinctive merging of Afro-Haitian rara rhythms and electronic house music that he referred to as “rara tech.” By the decade’s end, he had created his own label and found international success, releasing numerous EPs and playing his custom blend everywhere from North America to Africa and the Middle East.
Girault began his career in Port-au-Prince in 2008, though it was after the 2010 earthquake that he began to form his original style combining traditional Haitian forms like rara, konpa, and rasin with progressive and deep house beats. This sound could be heard on the 2012 EP Reminiscence Then and even more so on his 2015 debut album, Kiskeya, and singles like “Journey to Tortuga” and “Sole.” The pioneering musician eventually founded his own label, RiZing MuZik, and released EPs like 2018’s Ghetto Leyan and 2019’s Selebre. Girault began 2020 with the”Papa Pyè” featuring vocals from voodoo priest and singer Erol Josué and “Basen an Fon” featuring singer Anie Alerte.
About DJ Bullet Delane
Whether you know him by his DJ name, DJ Bullet, his rapper moniker, Balalalet, his nickname, Da2, or his legal name, Daniel Deux Verna, you know for sure that the young DJ and rapper has major talent that is appreciated all over Haiti and throughout the Haitian music world. Music is in his blood. For as long as he can remember, DJ Bullet was surrounded by musicians and grew to have a deep appreciation for music. His brothers performed in Konpa bands and, after moving to Miami for his university studies, he worked with his friends who were also talented musicians. Through his connections, DJ Bullet was able to expose his talent to wider audiences and really feed his passion for music.
About NSL Dance Ensemble
The Nancy St Léger NSL DANSE ENSEMBLE is a performance collective dedicated to the preservation of authentic Haitian Folklore dance. The company was created to demistify Haitian Folkloric dances and to celebrate Haiti’s rich cultural Heritage. NSL Danse holds classes every Saturday at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. They educate students of all ages as well as people of various ethnicities by teaching and performing traditional dances in schools and events throughout the community.
About Tradisyon Lakou Lakay
TLL, Inc. is a nonprofit 501-c3 arts and culture organization. Tradisyon Lakou Lakay is Haitian Creole and loosely translated to Hometown Traditions. To bring it closer to home, “lakou” is a community space for all kinds of gathering. “LAKOU” is all about the collective strength and “all hands on deck” or “yon sèl dwèt pa manje kalalou.
About Awoze Twoubadou
Awoze Twoubadou lead by Lelvelt Jean play Twoubadou (Haitian Creole pronunciation: [twubadu], French: Troubadour) music is a popular genre of guitar-based music from Haiti that has a long and important place in Haitian culture. The word comes from troubadour, a medieval poet-musician who wrote and sang songs about courtly love. Like the troubadours of old, the Haitian twoubadou is a singer-composer who accompanies himself on songs that tell about the bitterness and humor of love, often using risqué or suggestive lyrics.
About Rara Lakay
Rara Lakay is a live music traditional Haitian street music band.
