The benefit features Dr. Raul Ruiz Miyares, a professor of Afro-Cuban culture and history at Casa del Caribe, Santiago de Cuba. His lecture, "Cuba & Africanismo: The Making of Revolutionary Culture", will include slides and a video. The benefit also includes: spoken word, an Afro-Cuban folkloric performance, a Caribbean dinner, and a Latin, World Beat dance party, all on Friday, May 2.6 p.m.
A graduate of Howard University and the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia, Crenshaw currently serves as vice president for economic development of the Washington, D.C.-based Organization of Africans in the Americas (OAA). Founded nearly six years ago as a support group, OAA functions as a resource and referral center of data, service and empowerment of Africans in the Americas. Nevertheless, Franklin is eager to point an emerging Black movement across Latin America that is battling to become a part of the political and economic process of the region. "We are now working very hard to ensure that genuine changes are brought about, especially as they affect the lives of the millions of Blacks in Latin America," the OAA executive director said. Some of those changes include linking Black Latin students and other aspiring small entrepreneurs with the Howard University Small Business Center in northwest Washington, D.C. "We are working to develop sustainable linkages between Blacks in America and Blacks in Latin America," said Crenshaw, who noted that Howard already has a growing number of Black Latin American students.
Here in Florida, Caribbean people may not celebrate with Junkonoos, but with their cousins the Mocko Jumbies. All over South Florida the Kwuya or stilt dance has become quite popular and includes the participation of children as well. This ritual dance is especially popular among Trinidadians. A newly-formed parang group, the Punto Finale, is testimony to the enduring appeal of Caribbean Christmas celebrations even when one is miles away from home. Led y Ruby Limare, with Dr. Dawn Batson as one of the 12 members, this group has been serenading South Floridians with lively Spanish-style Christmas music that has been part of the season's celebrations in Trinidad for centuries. Kwanzaa, which means first fruits of harvest, is a celebration that many Caribbean people can relate to because of its Afro-Centric base and its focus on family life, self-reliance, and culture. Although Kwanzaa begins the day after Christmas, its celebrations embraces this age-old tradition of Christmas day.
"Cuba has represented metaphorically the ability of an oppressed people to challenge imperialism and colonialism," Marable explained. "In the political imagination of Black America, Cuba represents the radical possibility of fundamental social change. One of the key questions now is -- what does Cuba represent for Black America in this period of political transition?"
"The Cuban experiment with socialism raises a number of theoretical questions about the difficulties of social transformation in multiracial societies," said Marable. "How successful has Cuba been in uprooting racism and sexism? Are the values of a socialist society possible in a transition to a market economy?"
The fall season is always a kickoff for months of celebrations. From Rosh Hashanah to Columbus Day to Veteran's Day and of course Thanksgiving fall becomes a season of celebrations. And Caribbean folk in their usual creative manner fit their traditions and celebrations right into the thick of things. "Ethnic Brides is all about acknowledging the rich heritage of our African and cosmopolitan background, of mixing traditional with contemporary to make one's wedding memorable, exciting and rich in heritage," says Jacqui Scott, who hosted the event. Especially thought provoking was the poem "Dat bumpy Head Gal", inspired by her real-life experience where she was criticized by some members of the Jamaican public for wearing her "chiney bump" hairstyle on television.
Recipients of the fellowships, funded by the International Development Research Center in Canada, are Lester Wilkinson of Trinidad and Tobago; Margaret Brito of Barbados; and Jamaicans Diana Thorburn, Lisa Ann Taylor and Charles Edwards. The cultural studies initiative is the UWI's response to the perceived need to address the issue of Caribbean development and an acknowledgment that leadership in the region can only be as good as the critical analytical performance of those responsible for developmental planning. Ms. Brito is in the second year of an M.Phil. program at the UWI's Cave Hill Campus in Barbados. Her research will examine the economic potential of Barbados' cultural manifestations such as its popular music, dancer, theater and religion.
At a recent conference in Martinique, entitled "36 hours for the Caribbean", that focused on better means of cooperation between French West Indian departments and their independent neighbors, Martiniquan lawyer Alain Manville spoke about "Law, judicial practices and human traffic in the Caribbean." "France wishes to maintain her Caribbean departments in a state of indifference towards their natural environment," said Mr. Manville. "For Nearly 10 years one has witnessed a complicity between the Prefecture of Martinique and the French embassy of St. Lucia to deny visas to nationals from St. Lucia and Dominica and when these visas are accorded, the time taken is exorbitant and stay periods are reduced to a minimum," says Mr. Manville.
"IBM is honored to sponsor this spectacular exhibition that tells the story of a nation's history while giving all of us a broader view of Haiti's cultural heritage," said Gregg A. DeMar, general manager, Great Lakes Area, IBM Corporation. "Through the study of diverse cultures we often learn more about ourselves, our beliefs and values, as well as gain insight into those whose heritage is represented in an exhibition such as `Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou.'" The predominant religion of the Haitian people, Vodou was created by enslaved Africans who transformed their beliefs and rituals according to the conditions they had to face in the New World. These African traditions encountered European traditions -- the art and ritual practices of Roman Catholicism -- to emerge in an original form, Vodou. The word "Vodou," meaning "sacred," was borrowed into Haitian Creole from the Fon language of West Africa. Parallel African-derived religions now flourish in the Caribbean, South America and major cities of the United States and Canada.
Dominicans fete late, and even after three nights of nonstop music there must be upwards of 4,000 people waiting to hear the last band. As Haiti's most famous kompa group - Tabou Combo - takes the stage, exhaustion is dispelled by their relaxed "C'est Tambou", an invitation to a dancing-at-dawn session which continues long after the sun has climbed into the sky. The Haitians in the press box break into spontaneous dance, some straying on-stage; couples slip into each others' arms, moving in effortless elegance, and Dominica's minister of tourism, Norris Prevost, inquires whether this is not the best party I've ever seen. Haiti's Magnum Band with St. Lucian Luther Francois on sax blasted away the wee-hours fatigue with flowing funk and konpa over vodou rhythms and soaring lyrical soukous guitar. It was nearly 7:30 a.m. when Guadeloupe's Taxi Creole ended a tight, driving set which drew on zouk, salsa, merengue, beguine, reggae, jazz and funk.
