The Haitian Compas Festival is now a staple in Miami that has brought tourists from New York, Boston, Atlanta, Martinique, Guyana and France, amongst others, to indulge in the Miami sun while swaying to the melodious sounds of Compas music being played on major radio stations and television stations to commemorate Haitian Flag Day and Haitian Heritage Cultural Month.

“The festival has become bigger than just us. We have put all of the biggest acts in Haitian music history on our stage and have brought a massive amount of tourism to Miami for a week of music, food, fun and Haitian history,” explains Jean Michel Cerenord, Co-Founder of the festival.

“As a team, we continue to grow, promoting Haitian culture, finding validation within the community and asking for sponsorship dollars to fortify our efforts in showing the world how Haitians make-up a large percentage of greatness in our community. The Haitian Compas Festival has played an integral role in making that possible,” shares Alexandre Ade, Haitian Compas Festival Board Member.

The Haitian Compas Festival has become a mecca of Haitian pride and next year on Saturday, May 16, 2020 it will once again take center stage at Mana Wynwood as the biggest Haitian Flag Celebration in the world.

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This past Saturday, May 18th, 2019, I attended the 21st Annual Haitian Compas Festival, at Mana Wynwood Convention Center, Miami, Florida, the same venue the event was held last year. As I’m always excited to be around art, being at the Wynwood Art District for the HCF, I thought would be worthwhile and it was. I knew I would get the opportunity to walk around and admire some beautiful graffiti and murals before the Fest starts, so I made sure I went early enough to get a good parking area and do my tour. My art appreciation was at an all-time high by the time I decided to go in the Fest; it was 5:11 PM — beautiful rainless South Florida vibe.

Driving to the HCF, I was streaming Father Of Asahd — DJ Khaled’s new album. I was inspired, motivated and ready for some Compas music and watch some good performances. I have had to opportunity to attend the festival at least 8 times throughout the years, starting in 2004, the year I performed. Because of my experience with the event and who I am naturally, I usually take my critical eyes and ears with me every time I attend the festival. Hence, I always end up walking away feeling disappointed with the same question: Is That The Best We Can Do? This year, I kept my expectations very low because I didn’t want to feel disappointed once again. I made peace with myself that I would be less judgmental, give everyone a chance, and enjoy the show.

To me, the HCF is still the biggest and the most popular event we have in the Haitian Music Industry (HMI). The event may have had its share of lows over the years; however, it has had more highs according to people close to the organization. Doing something of this magnitude for 21 consecutive years is tremendous no matter how you put it. Some things just can’t be quantified. We should all appreciate the fact that we have an event as such in the city of Miami that promotes our Haitian culture.

I must give props to the organization for being consistent in many ways for so many years. Yes, there were some things I thought could have been better. The question of whether or not some of the people who are in key positions are good enough at what they’re hired to do for the organization still traveled my mind. However, I think the organization as a whole is still doing a good job. I do think though it needs to spend a significant amount of time brainstorming how to re-brand the event moving forward and making a tremendous effort to appeal to the young generation of Haitian Americans.

Still, It’s not clear whether or not the festival is a Haitian Flag Day celebration event or simply an event to present the “Best Compas Playlist” every year around that time. I could not put my finger on what exactly the theme of the day was other than different acts got on stage and do what they normally do. Time really begs for some fresh ideas.

Rodly “Oz’mosis” Madeus

HMI Buzz: The Number One Source For The Haitian American Experience.

When British artist/curator Leah Gordon reached out to Haitian-born painter and sculptor Edouard Duval-Carrié a few years ago for help curating an exhibit focused on the city of Port-au-Prince, Gordon left a lot to the imagination.

But she also knew what she wanted.

“The concept she outlined was to organize a very ambitious presentation of the city of Port-au-Prince and identify within its confines, poles of cultural production focusing on the visual arts,” said Duval-Carrié, recalling their conversation.

Duval-Carrié, who was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, knew exactly where to go to bring Gordon’s vision to life: Grand Rue, the capital’s grand street where junk, scraps and automobile parts are transformed daily into expressions of everyday life in Haiti, and where Haitian art has undergone a rebirth.

“The apocalyptic vision they present to us in their powerful sculptures is a far cry from the production that has characterized Haitian art production in the decades prior,“ Duval-Carrié said about Grand Rue’s homespun artists.

That vision is part of the large-scale exhibition, “PÒTOPRENS: The Urban Artists of Port-au-Prince,” being featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami. Curated by Duval-Carrié, Gordon and others, it brings together the works of 20 Haitian artists. Their work includes sculptures, photographs, films and a recreated Port-au-Prince barbershop, all highlighting the capital’s street life and religious heritage. Together they provide a portrait of a historical city in flux, and Haiti’s chaotic intersections of history, art, religion, politics scene and cultural shifts.

“We selected the works from informal collectives of majority class artists creating art works from specific zones of production within the city making works, which are bound together by shared cultural and material practices,” said Gordon.

The exhibit, she added, “is envisioning Haitian contemporary art production through the lens of the city of Port-au-Prince.”

Echoing Gordon’s sentiments, Duval-Carrié said the artists being exhibited “are responding to the spiraling collapse of the Haitian economy and by extant the expanding divide between North and South.

“We hope that not only the general public but in particular the Haitian expatriates living in Miami may realize that artists such as the Grand Rue collective are engaged in discussions that situates them at the core of the North-South dilemma and that their production illustrates very forcefully the disparities that are creating a most untenable situation worldwide,” he said.

The exhibit will run until Aug. 11. The cost of viewing the exhibit at MOCA is free for members and $10 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

The exhibit is one of many displays of Haitian art and culture that will be available next month when South Florida celebrates Haitian Heritage month.

Haitian Heritage Month Events

May 2, 5-9 p.m.: Dance to the rhythms of Little Haiti Rara Lakay, and DJ Gardy’s blend of konpa, rara with electronic and house beats during Community Night at Pérez Art Museum Route 1804: The Evolution of the Flag and the Beat. Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Free

May 3, 3-6 p.m.: A free cultural Conversation at the Betsy Hotel, 1440 Ocean Dr. Miami Beach. Join several prominent members of the South Florida community as they discuss life as a “hyphenated” American of Caribbean descent.

May 10, 7 p.m.: Enjoy a curated experience with ROUTE 1804, Evolution: The Flag at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 59th Terr., Miami. Free

May 16, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.: Miami Haitian Compas Festival Welcome to Miami Hang Out Thursday party, featuring Enposib, Magik Kenny, Dj Bullet, Valmix, DJ FMA, Ted Bounce. Cafe iguana Pines, 8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $30 in advance, more at the door. For tickets go to eventbrite.

May 16, 8-midnight: The Citadel food hall at 8300 NE Second Ave., Miami will host konpa on the rooftop with Haitian musician, MikaBen and local DJs. The free event will also feature food and conversation.

May 17, 6-11 p.m.: Sounds of Little Haiti at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 54th St., featuring System Band. The free outdoor concert will also celebrate Haitian Flag Day, May 18.

May 17, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.: Miami Haitian Compas Festival, Black Party featuring Djakout #1, Zenglen, Kai, Roody Roodboy. Cafe Iguana Pines, 8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $40 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 17, 10 p.m.-5 a.m:, Miami Haitian Compas Festival, Black Party featuring Harmonik, Vayb, Nu Look, Kreyol La. Wynwood Factory, 55 NE 24th St., Miami. Cost is $40 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 18, 4 p.m-6 a.m: The 21st annual Haitian Compas Festival returns to Mana Wynwood, Midtown Miami, 318 NW 23rd St., Miami. The event features the top bands in Haitian konpa music. Cost is $50 in advance for general admission, $100 VIP. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite or call 305-945-8814.

May 18, 10 pm.-4 a.m.: Haitian Compas Festival after party featuring Kai, Enposib at Club Reign, 9940 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $40 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 19, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.: Haitian Compas Festival All White Affair featuring Vayb, Nu Look, Harmonik, Tony Mixx and DJ Heavy at Cafe Iguana Pines, 8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $40 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 20, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.: Haitian Compas Festival GoodBye Miami party featuring Zenglen, T-Vice and Gabel at at Cafe Iguana Pines, 8358 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. Cost is $30 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.

May 25, 7 p.m.: Haitian American Leadership Organization (HALO) 14th annual HALO Cultural Night celebrating Haitian women in the history of Haiti and featuring konpa band, T-Vice. Cost is $175 for general admission and $225 for VIP, JW Marriott Ballroom, 1109 Brickell Ave., Miami. Tickets can be purchased at www.halohaiti.org/tickets/