Haiti-based singer Rutshelle Guillaume performed at Maiwan Productions’ Festivale Mondiale De Musique in Montreal, Canada this past weekend. The singer performed songs from her album Emotions for her fans in Montreal.

Angelo Dèyè, Beaudin Clarens and Sébastien Roc, known collectively as AyitiMakaya—designed this dress for the singer—worn for her final performance.

The singer wore this black bodycon dress and sported her trademark buzz cut.

Also performing during the three day festival were other women performers from the African Diaspora, Kertha Georges, Joyce, Nancy Ann, Danielle Thermidor, Naila, Marlene N’garo, Queen Beez, MivYv, Mouna, and Tatie Rebecca.

Noemie Lorzema is the singer all of Canada can’t stop talking about. At 18, she’s the star of this year’s La Voix Canada (the Canadian version of The Voice).

Watch this video of her blind audition for the show.

The song is “Lift Me Up”, by Christina Aguilera.

And here she is again, this time doing her take on “Hello” by singer Adele.

Even when she’s doing covers of well-known songs, her talent shines through.

Here she is remaking “Give Me Love”, by Ed Sheeran.

A native of Canada born of Haitian parents, the Haitian-Canadian community wasted no time in acknowledging her and her accomplishments.

Here is Noemie Lorzema being honored by the Haitian Consul in Montreal, Canada.

What’s next for her? I’ll be watching this singer, and you should too.

CLICK HERE TO KEEP UP WITH HER ON TWITTER

One of the most acclaimed authors of Haitian descent on this planet, Dany Laferrière was admitted as a member of the prestigious Academie Française, an institution for intellectual heavyweights that has been in existence for a more than two centuries. Laferrière’s novels have been noted by critics for offering glimpses of Haiti through the themes of exile and acculturation in Quebec that he repeatedly explores in his books. He found it necessary to pen The World is Moving Around Me: A Memoir of the Haiti Earthquake, chronicling his brief stop on the island during the catastrophe.

Laferrière’s tomes have earned him several awards, including France’s Prix Medicis Prize for his novel L’enigma du retour (published in English as The Return). Some literary critics have praised the author for his whimsical titles as much as his writing. Several of his books have been adapted for the big screen starting with How to Make Love to A Negro Without Getting Tired, and Vers Le Sud (Heading South).

Your last name is Laferrière. Do any of your ancestors have a connection of sort to that Citadel in Haiti that we all hear so much about?

I imagine that there is a link between me and the citadel because there aren’t too many Laferrières in Haiti. I think it was the architect of the citadel who was named Laferrière. I have not investigated this case because I’m not trying to come from a distinguished family, contenting myself with being an ordinary Haitian.

What do you consider your greatest achievement as a writer?

There is no great achievement in literature. This is different from sport: it is not as clear as a 100 meters race where you’re immediately declared the fastest runner, and the stadium stands up and applauds. We simply write our emotions and we hope that the reader will experience them the way we did. It’s the reader who determines the strength of a book.

Tell us about yourself. Your childhood, and stuff.

I don’t have much to add. I’ve told plenty in my books, and eleven of them, I believe, are translated into English, and in fifteen languages. You must read them, if you want to know me. I worked hard for almost thirty years to stop responding to such questions. Regarding my childhood, I have said everything in Aroma of Coffee. It is up to you to tell me about your childhood and see a link, if possible, with mine and your parents’.

What can you tell us about the writing of your book Aroma of Coffee?

I wrote The Aroma of Coffee after arriving in Miami in 1990. I saw the Caribbean decor of this town, the heat, the trees and it reminded me of my childhood. I sat in a small room and I wrote this book about my childhood in a month. At first, I was taking notes to see if I remembered this childhood spent with my grandmother Da in Petit-Goave. Then I realized that these small paragraphs were not notes, but burning images of my childhood. I published the manuscript as is.

Is there an author whose work that you so admired, that it pushed you to become a writer yourself?

There is no writer in particular who inspired me to become a writer. It’s the thousands of little details that give direction to someone’s life. It takes a tribe to help us finish what we start. These are writers whose spirit, style and heart we love. There are many in my case: Borges, Baldwin, Bulgakov, Romanian, Alexis, Tanizaki, Tolstoy, Diderot, Gombrowicz, Baldwin, Hemmingway, Marquez, Amado, Miller, Ducharme, Miron, Walcott, Carpentier, Chauvet, Woof, Rufo, Graham Green, Bukowski, etc. All of them helped convince me that this was what I wanted to do.

Out of all the books you’ve written, which one has been the absolutely most painful to write?

The book cost me my back is Le Cris des Oiseaux Fous. I finished it with the help of five pillows because of a terrible backache. I thought it was a physical problem when in fact it was the most emotionally painful book. In it, I mentioned leaving Haiti, my father’s exile, and the suffering my mother endured from seeing the two men in her life—my father and me—go into exile.

When you travel to Haiti, what are some things that come to your mind?

When I am in Haiti, nothing else comes to mind other than being in Haiti. Haiti is too alive to give you time to think. There is always something in the house, in the streets—in life—there. It’s when I’m not in Haiti that I harbor thoughts about Haiti. When I am outside of Haiti, Haiti is in me and I am in Haiti.

Your bio says that you lived in Miami for a time. Why did you ultimately choose to live in Montreal?

I first lived in Montreal after leaving Haiti for the first time in 1976. Then in 1990, I went to live and write in Miami (1990 to 2002). In 2002, I returned to Montreal where I’ve lived up to now. I didn’t choose it in 1976. I had to leave Haiti abruptly, as I was in danger of death, just after the death of my friend, the journalist Gasner Raymond.

What is the Haitian community like in Canada?

All is well in the community. It’s mainly based in Montreal, and increasingly in other cities like Quebec. Members of the community operate in all areas: taxis, hospitals—many nurses and doctors—engineers, workers, artists—actors, writers, painters—restauranteurs, shopkeepers.. It is very varied…The President of the council of the city of Montreal is a Haitian poet named Benjamin Frantz. The President of l’Union des écrivains Québécois—the Union of Quebec Writers—is a writer of Haitian origin Stanley Péan, and so on…We can say that after more than 60 years of presence in this city, [the Haitian community in Montreal] is a resounding success.

If you could talk to all the young aspiring authors of this world, what would you tell them?

Read, read, read without attempting to judge. Read to learn. And don’t be like those people writing blogs who give their opinion constantly when they haven’t yet written a single book. When one tries to write, when one tries to do something significant in any field, one becomes more humble. You develop more respect for others’ work. When you’re too hard on others, you’re digging your own hole. You’re always going to have this fear of not living up to your dreams. Instead, look at things this way: you’re a chick who’s trying to fly. You have to learn, take note of great sentences, write simple stories—not to publish, but to study range—like a pianist. Have self-restraint, but don’t be shy. Be absorbed in your work. And if you can’t take criticism, don’t show your work. Protect yourself—and when you’re ready—send it to a publisher—and not another writer, because he’ll be busy with his own books. He’s already given you everything a writer can possibly give—his own published works. As for me, I published through Memoire D’encrier, a book that chronicles my life as a writer and reader for young writers: Journal d’un jeune écrivain en pyjama [Diary of a young writer in pajamas]. It was picked up by [France-based publisher] Grasset. If you want to compliment a writer, don’t tell him he’s a great writer. Let him know by citing passages from his work that you’ve read his books.

You’ve said you are often asked why you don’t write in Creole, your first language.

My answer: Why don’t they translate my work in Creole? I’m referring to a bona fide translation of Aroma of Coffee and some of my other books (Pays sans chapeau, Le Charme des Après-midi Sans Fin, Le Cri des Oiseaux Fous) done ​​by a real writer of the Creole language. The art of writing is the same in any language: you must write constantly in that said language to achieve acceptable results. It’s not enough to be French to write a good book in French, just as it is not enough to be Haitian to write a good book in Creole. The language must work to make him [creatively] discharge. Instead of criticizing a writer for not writing in [his] native language—writers are essentially free beings—we should instead offer to translate his book. And after evaluating your credentials, and seeing that you are up to the challenge, he accepts your proposal. It’s not a matter of faith, it’s an art.

Miami-based singer Saskya Sky was in Canada this weekend, and boy did she kill it. Her Canadian tour included stops in Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa.

Such a trendsetter.

For Quebec City, she sported a body-tight, long-sleeved romper.

Look at those boots. That girl, Saskya.

In Montreal, the bombshell’s fashion style was as talked about as her singing. Check out some of these futuristic get-ups she donned.

Ooh, Saskya Sky!

It’s something straight out of a sci-fi episode…Kinda like a Millennial Barbarella with a tropical touch.

Saskya is getting bolder and bolder when it comes to what she wears onstage. Her hair used to be her main trademark, but she’s really getting more flashier in her stage wear. Her fans are obviously loving it.

Recently, she posted several videos in which she addressed naysayers who were encouraging her to alter her style and her looks. Listen, she didn’t get this far in life by being like everybody else, okay? Needless to say, she put a lot of those folks in their place. Saskya Sky will always be Saskya Sky, thank you very much.

If you haven’t checked out her Debut EP, featuring her song “Touch My Body”, what exactly are you waiting for?

CLICK HERE to visit Saskya Sky’s Official website! CLICK HERE to read past articles on the singer.

Joyce Fuerza has lived in four different countries, so it’s barely a surprise that she’s fluent in five different languages and is learning a sixth. What’s surprising is that in spite of her overwhelming success, she still comes across as apprpoachable. Fuerza is one of the most popular voices on Canadian television. Her show “The Joyce Fuerza Show” offers viewers entrepreneurship and personal development guidance. She regularly interviews small business owners and entrepreneurs from all over Canada. Business is a passion for the media personality, and this shows through her launch of her very own production company Joyce Fuerza Productions.

K. St. Fort: Joyce Fuerza, I think it’s interesting that your last name is Fuerza since it means strength in Spanish.

Thank you so much for inviting me to do this interview. I am really humbled and delighted to be able to share a bit about myself, my projects, and my journey with you and your readers. Hopefully I can inspire others to focus on their passion and motivate them to work hard towards achieving their objectives. This is definitely not the first time I have been asked to comment about my name. Fuerza is actually my middle name—given to me by my lovely mother. I use my first name and my middle name—Joyce Fuerza—as my brand.

K. St. Fort: So you know Kreyol, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and you’re learning Mandarin. How cool.
Thank you! Living and studying abroad in four different countries has been one of the most important experiences of my life and I am so grateful for that. It definitely widened my horizons and got me to be more involved in other cultures. That also explains why I speak five languages. I encourage anyone to learn an additional language, it’s incredible how much it will change your life!

Above: Interviewing a guest on The Joyce Fuerza show, her motivational and personal development-focused talk show.

K. St. Fort: Did you feel pretty growing up?

I have always believed that being pretty comes from the inside first. I have always felt I had a beautiful personality which in turn reflects on the outside. Growing up I don’t remember ever being obsessed about beauty, and today, I’m still not. It’s so easy for people, especially young people today, to get the wrong picture about what is labeled as ‘beautiful’ or ‘pretty’ with what they are constantly seeing on TV, or with the use of Photoshop on pictures in magazines etc… What’s important is that you feel good in your own skin. Charm and kindness last way longer than beauty. Beauty will eventually fade away.

K. St. Fort: Every day practically you have a camera aiming at your face. Does that ever make you self-conscious?
No matter what you do in life, people will form opinions about you. So, if you are afraid of being judged, you will never accomplish anything in life. I am a person who believes in taking initiatives in order to make it in this world, so it is important to learn to be comfortable with not caring so much about what other people think about you and not let other people’s judgments stop you from following your dreams. Otherwise, you will never do anything great in your life. I enjoy having a camera on me as long as it’s helping me share what I learn everyday with others.

K. St. Fort: Do you have a beauty and fitness regimen?
I don’t follow any particular diet, but I do eat healthy. I prefer home cooked meals; I watch a lot of cooking shows to try new recipes. As for fitness nothing drastic either, I usually run (either outdoors or on the treadmill) and I enjoy dancing especially Salsa.

K. St. Fort: What would you say to other young women who would like to make a career in television broadcasting?
I would tell them first to make sure they get an education. Knowledge is something that nobody can take away from you. Then, go out there and network, volunteer or do internships with established organizations so you can learn more about the industry, to acquire more skill set and experience. Always be confident.

K. St. Fort: You have your own production company Joyce Fuerza Productions, Inc. What’s a Monday like running this company?
I work with a very dynamic team. We share the same passion and vision which makes our working environment not even feel like we are working, but more like sharing ideas and having fun while being productive. My typical Monday is much more than running my production company. I am also involved as the head coordinator in the organization of two major film festivals in Canada: the Toronto Black Film Festival and the Montreal International Black Film Festival. So, I go from coordinating special events, to speaking at different TV and radio outlets, going to team meetings and press conferences, welcoming celebrities coming from different parts of the world, doing red carpet interviews, among other things.

K. St. Fort: Any book or books that you’d like to recommend to me and my readers in terms of how it helped you grow as a person?
I am very business-oriented, so I read a lot of leadership and entrepreneurship books. One book I would highly suggest is The Nine Step Plan for Success by New York Times bestselling author Stedman Graham whom I had the pleasure to personally meet. If you can also attend one of Stedman’s business conferences, then it’s even better. You will learn a great deal of tips on how to grow and be more successful in your life.

[Photo Credit: All photos furnished by subject.]

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 OF THIS INTERVIEW. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH BY CLICKING THIS LINK.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT JOYCE FUERZA’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL | JOYCE FUERZA’S WEBSITE | JOYCE FUERZA ON TWITTER | JOYCE FUERZA ON INSTAGRAM

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT OTHER FIGURES IN THE HAITIAN-CANADIAN COMMUNITY

Concordia University graduate Joyce Fuerza is the host of her own self-titled talk show in Canada. The media mogul and owner of Joyce Fuerza Productions uses her know-how as an entrepreneur to motivate viewers in Canada to pursue their dreams. The motivational aspect of her show has earned the Haitian-Canadian comparisons to the States-side mogul-of-all-moguls Oprah Winfrey.

Kreyolicious: You went to Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. If you had to do things over, would you have skipped college and just gone right into a position in broadcasting?
Education has always been a top priority for me and one of our key values growing up in my family. Going to university has been an incredible experience and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Aside from the knowledge I got, I was able to make amazing connections. I got exposed to a rich cultural and social environment. University definitely allowed me to mature and be more equipped to tackle everything I’m doing today. However, you should never limit your education with only what you can learn in school. You have to constantly be networking, volunteering or do internships with established organizations so you can learn more about the industry you are interested in…And keep learning all your life through books, seminars, workshops, conferences and more.

What would you like to say to somebody out there whose going to be reading this interview…who’s tried everything with their personal and professional lives, and nothing seems to work. What would you say to encourage that individual?
Success is not something that happens overnight. You have to constantly take tons of action with the right attitude and surround yourself with positive and likeminded people who will lift you higher and contribute to your success. In today’s world where technology is constantly changing, where there are so much networking opportunities, there is no such thing as, “I’ve tried everything.” Learn as much as possible about yourself, about what you want to accomplish, about what you like or are passionate about. Even though it is not always easy to determine at first what is it you are really meant to do, you need to get involved and engage in activities that are of interest to you and by engaging you will certainly discover your true potentials and have a clearer sense of what direction to aim towards. A lot of doors will close for you on the road to success, and that is exactly when you should get even more fired up to knock at other doors and go after your goals. As Oprah likes to say it: Failure is the Universe trying to shift you into another direction. So wake up, dust yourself up, and try again—or try something new.

Kreyolicious: Are you involved with any philanthropic causes?
Every year, I volunteer with different organization. I’m involved in causes such as feeding the homeless. I am also involved at the Fabienne Colas Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting education in the arts as well as to promoting cinema, art and culture in Canada and abroad. At the Foundation, we leverage the power of the arts in order to break isolation and foster social change. One of the most amazing festivals we also do is the Québec Film Festival in Haiti which is completely free for everyone. This allows exchange and cultural sharing between Québec and Haiti.

Kreyolicious: How do you stay connected to Haitian culture? Do you go to Haiti often?
I am very involved in the Haitian community and support as much Haitian initiatives as I can. I am also part of the organizing team of the festival Haiti en Folie in Montreal every summer. It was created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation and it definitely gives me a sense of pride in supporting Haiti and having others discover my country’s culture. The festival offers the very best of Haitian culture by showcasing over a hundred artists. It attracts thousands of people each year. Because of all my current projects, I don’t get to go to Haiti as often as I would like to, but I definitely stay connected to my roots.

Above: Joyce interviewing a guest on her talk show.

Kreyolicious: Are your parents proud of you? How have they shown that?
I am very blessed to have parents and siblings who have always been the first people to praise me and encourage me to reach all my milestones in life. I am very fortunate and grateful to have their support in everything I do. But don’t get me wrong…they are also my toughest critics. You also need to have constructive criticism in order to get better.

As a media professional and entrepreneur, you constantly have to get hip to the latest technology and developments. In order to grow, you have to be on this perpetual road of applying new things. What should we expect from you next?
I am currently working on many projects having to do with Fashion, TV, including being a jury member for a beauty contest happening in Canada this fall, and other projects from my production company Joyce Fuerza Productions, Inc., I also have many speaking engagements, I get invited to be on several panels, and to host different events. I am also focusing on my career as an actress. I can’t reveal too much for now, but make sure to stay connected by following me on social media and by signing up for my free newsletters where I give lots of tips on my website at joycefuerza.com.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT JOYCE FUERZA’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL | JOYCE FUERZA’S WEBSITE | JOYCE FUERZA ON TWITTER | JOYCE FUERZA ON INSTAGRAM

It will be another month before singer-songwriter-guitarist Wesli’s world tour winds down. The tour had the Canada-based singer hopping all over the globe, from Fest Pirineros Sur in Huesca Spain, to the prestigious Nuit Boréal Esplanades des Invalides, in Paris France to Festival Sfinks in Bruxelles Belgium. He even had a stop at Cavallerizza for a show in Italy.

Besides his arresting performances at festivals all over the world, Wesli has released three acclaimed albums, each solidifying his standing, and enforcing his brand as an ambassador of African-inspired beats in Canada.

Kreyolicious: If you could listen to five records for the rest of your life, and were forbidden from listening to another music by some sort of decree…what would these records be…
Clinton Fearon – Mi Deh yah . This album has a really deep message…like [in the song] “Rock and a Hard Place”, which applies to all the Haitians who’ve left their country to go to the USA or elsewhere with a dream…and when they get there, it’s harder to realize the dream than what they previously thought. Two: Emeline Michel, Reine de Coeur, when I get nostalgic about Haiti. Three: Manu Chao, Esperanza. He’s an artist who’s real simple sincere in his message. He’s really diversified when it comes to his music.

Four: Tiken Jah Fakoly, Coup de Gueule. He’s my friend, my brother and mentor. This album is his career’s classic. “Plus rien ne m’étonne” is that song I can never stop listening to. The music, the words…everything is perfect. Five: Sara Tavares, Xinti.
This album is like a river flowing. I can listen to it until I fall asleep, and when I wake up with it on. I’ll never get tired of it. She’s an artist, a musician without compare.

Above: His latest album Ayiti Etoile Nouvelle [Haiti…New Star]

Kreyolicious: Besides music, what are other things you’re passionate about?
I’m passionate about sports like football…soccer, [going to the] gym, fishing, kayaking, swimming and teaching.

Above: La Liberte dans le Noir, his album released in 2012, who title translates to Freedom in Darkness.

Kreyolicious: What’s the most memorable moment of your career thus far?
I have so many to choose one might be so difficult but for a recent one when I was in Liverpool UK at Africa Oyé Festival the biggest African festival outside of Africa. [A crowd of] 50 000 people in front of me. Woq. I remember interacting with them was a moment special and memorable.

Check out Wesli’s music video below, featuring Mikaben and directed by Sylvestre Haze.

CLICK HERE TO BUY WESLI’S MUSIC! |

President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the slum priest, resigned today under intense pressure from the United States and the threat of an invasion of the capital by armed insurgents, fleeing by jet at dawn under heavy American guard.
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President Bush ordered the deployment of the Marines to Haiti as part of an “interim international force” to restore order. Both France and Canada have agreed to send troops, too. The United Nations Security Council met in emergency session to consider a resolution for a multinational force.
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Mr. Aristide was once hailed as the man who could deliver peace and freedom to his nation, a slave nation that liberated itself 200 years ago from its imperial oppressor only to stifle under a blanket of strife and poverty. But his presidency crumbled as he violently cracked down on political dissent and armed rebels seized Haiti’s north this month. The Bush administration, which had earlier been reluctant to suggest that an elected president step down, has shifted its stance over the past several days, increasing the pressure and finally strongly urging him to step down.
Source: NY Times
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