So today is February 13, 2016…on this day 20 years ago, Columbia Records released The Score by The Fugees, featuring Lauren Hill, Pras and Wyclef Jean, heralding a tide of Haitian-American and Haitian pride. Came across this really interesting quote from Edwidge Danticat about Wyclef in an article archives. She told New York Times reporter Garry Pierre-Pierre the following: “Haitian identity will always be thought of as before and after Wyclef.”

This article was published in 1998, two years after The Score was released, and less than a year after Wyclef’s solo album The Carnival dropped.

So, while looking for some archival footage of him during those days, I came across this video of a performance in Haiti.

This video is so amazing to me. Check him out at the 0.32 mark.

And check out this video of Wyclef in an interview with Haitian media during a 1997 trip he and the other Fugees members took to Haiti. And look at Lauryn at the beginning of the video with her natural hair twists. To think that this was filmed in the 1990s. Natural hair pioneer.

Wyclef is such a trip.

And The Fugees went on an adventure it seems doing this music video for “Fugee La”. Check it out.

And a vintage cover of the group in Vibe magazine.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MORE ARTICLES PERTAINING TO WYCLEF

Haitian food vlogger Lamise Oyugi is putting Haiti’s cuisine right where it belongs on Youtube—right alongside the other international cuisines that cooking enthusiasts salivate over. What started as a hobby of sorts has turned into a full-pledged business, as the Haitian-American foodie is being approached by brands, winning fans and subscribers for her channel, and not to mention expanding her brand off-line.

Since Haitian cuisine has much in common with other cuisines from parts of Africa, and the Caribbean, as well as the USA, the food entrepreneur now offers a variety of recipes and tutorials on her channel.

If you missed part one of our interview, CLICK HERE!

Kreyolicious: The African dishes you prepare are mostly from Uganda. How did you learn to prepare those dishes?
My husband is from Uganda, a country I visited a couple of times recently. While I was there, I learned to cook local dishes such as pilau food because I enjoyed it. I cooked that over and over for my family when I returned to North Dakota, and I have made that part of my YouTube videos.

Kreyolicious: What’s the best compliment you’ve gotten from a viewer?
A subscriber, who is not Haitian, told me that she made a fathers dinner day for her Haitian husband, after watching my video and she said that her husband said that was one of the best meals he has had thus far. That made feel good.

Another scrumptious dish from Haitian-American foodie Lamise Oyugi. Diri kole!

Kreyolicious: That’s awesome…If there was a food ration, and you were given the choice of choosing only one of these spices for a year and no other…which would you choose…Garlic…bell pepper and black pepper.
I would choose garlic, because you can crush it to infuse more flavor or you can chop for less.

Spaghetti cooked Haitian style by foodie extraordinaire Lamise Oyugi. Photo Credit: Lamise Oyugi

Kreyolicious: Have you ever thought of creating a cookbook to go with your channel?
I have thought about. I am working on it and will unveil it in the future.

Kreyolicious: What else is next for you?
Currently doing cooking classes. I also want to continue to produce more videos for my YouTube channel.

Photography Credit: Lamise Oyugi

CLICK HERE to watch Haitian food vlogger Lamise Oyugi cook her Haitian, Caribbean and African dishes! CHECK this fabulous foodie on her Instagram channel as well by CLICKING HERE!

Welcome back! It’s your girl Kreyolicious interviewing Living Hart and G’s Addiction founder Gayel “Cutiega” Pierre. The entrepreneur-fashion designer created Living Hart with multi-objectives, among them to give a platform to Haiti’s creatives to promote themselves. This year alone, Living Hart has had two editions in Port-au-Prince. Many hope that there will be a Living Hart New York and a Living Hart Miami, so that Haitian-American creatives living outside of Haiti can also be part of the Living Hart celebration.

Above: Gayel “Cutiega” Pierre, the founder of Living Hart, an initiative that brings Haiti’s creatives together.

In Part 2 of the interview with the entrepreneur, we discuss the benefits of trying moments in one’s life and entrepreneurial journey, as well balancing dual passions, and the future of the brand.

Read on!

Kreyolicious: Over the course of your journey as an entrepreneur, have you come across something that at the time you felt was the worst thing ever, only to look back now and think of it as beneficial, even character-building, for you?
Several times! When I first moved back to Haiti, the different mindset and our way of doing business were probably the most challenging and frustrating things I had to deal with. But now, I look back at it thinking that it reinforced my values and strengthened my endurance and determination.

Kreyolicious: Have you read any good books lately that you’d like to recommend to others?
Got to admit that I’m not too much of a reader. I get my inspirations and lessons by admiring others and observing how things work and why they work that way.

Above: A hand-painting session during Living Hart’s expo.

Kreyolicious: Do you think you’re getting better at balancing your clothing line G’s Addiction with Living Hart?
Yes. I think so. I think it’s becoming clear that I have two distinct sides: G’s Addiction, as designer, clothing, and the G’s Addiction as event planner. They are connected through art and share my common philosophy, but are two separate ventures.

Above: The founder of Living Hart is also the entrepreneur behind the clothing and lifestyle brand G’s Addiction.

Kreyolicious: Where do you see your ventures three years from now, and what should we expect from you?
As far as my imagination can go. [Laughs] I’m always thinking of something new, and I’m always trying to find a way to satisfy my clients. Therefore, without giving out any spoilers, I just can tell you that G’s Addiction is about to get even more addictive—very soon.

[Subject’s photo: Elmas Flaco]

CLICK HERE TO READ PAST ARTICLES ABOUT CUTIEGA!

CLICK HERE TO KEEP UP WITH LIVING HART FOUNDER GAYEL “CUTIEGA” PIERRE’S JOURNEY!