La Grand Fete: A Celebration of Haitian September 12, 2009

La Grande Fête will be a dynamic celebration of Haitian arts, culture and cuisine held in the plaza in Union Square, Somerville. The program will kick off with live drumming, followed by readings by local young writers and poets, including Jean-Dany Joachim, 2009 Cambridge Poet Populist-elect. Next up is renowned local Haitian musician Gifrants, who blends Haitian music, Brazilian music and jazz and overlays it with warm vocals in Creole, English and French. Things will heat up considerably when Jean Appolon and Nailah Bellinger lead the crowd in Kompa (Haitian house dance). The headliner of the evening will be Watch Out!, a local Haitian band that plays rollicking Haitian Kompa music.

During the festival, authentic Haitian food will be able for purchase and
artists will be selling their wares; notably the Atis Fanm Matenwa, a female cooperative will be selling their handpainted silk scarves. Social service organizations also will be on hand to tell us about the services they provide the community, both locally and in Haiti. The Wayside Youth & Family Support Network will showcase recent paintings by Haitian teens; there will be an onsite Haitian flagmakingproject for youth; and artist Valentin Iviquel will showcase his paintings and painten plein air during the festival.