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Highlights from Carnival 2007 - Trinidad & Haiti
Compiled by D. Misha Turner
Special Contributors:
Information on Haiti contributed by Holly Nicolas
Information on Trinidad contributed by Debbie Jacob and Wire
The islands of Trindad and Haiti celebrate carnival in their own unique ways, but let it be known, the peoples of these passionate islands are celebrating independence. And while carnival fans enjoy the festivities, Trinidad and Haitian musicians work together through deed and song to help strengthen, and encourage righteous change in the Caribbean.
TRINIDAD - Streaming Radio Stations
DJ Kutlass
http://www.djkutlass.com/
FeteNet Radio
http://www.fetenet.com/music2006a.tpl
The CaribPlanet Soundroom is the place to find music on Internet radio stations - reggae, soca, steelpan, konpa/zouk, reggaeton jukeboxes, videos and more.
http://caribplanet.homestead.com/Soundroom.html
HAITI - Streaming Radio Stations
http://www.opamizik.com/
http://www.radyoginen.com/
http://www.baxfamily.com/
http://radiogalaxiehaiti.com/Home.asp
http://www.caraibesfm.com/
Featuring Haitian entertainment...100% Kompa!
http://www.kompa.tv/
Kompa Mix Radio
www.kompamix.com
http://www.myspace.com/konpaxplozion
Featured Haitian Artists
 Djarara
For Djarara, it's all about keeping it real for Haiti's roots, something that they find difficult to do when many Haitians shun rara as a music form. Band Manager Mario Donnay says it's harder for them to produce and market rara when many middle-class Haitians see it as music fit only for low-income people and vodouists to appreciate. "They have a complex," Donnay said. "They might listen to it in private, but they don't support it openly."
By: Macollvie Jean-Francois, Haitian Times
ARTIST SITE: http://www.djarara.net/splashpage/
 Eddy Francois
Haitian vocalist Eddy François, the charismatic former lead singer for Boukman Eksperyans and Boukan Ginen, delivers a smooth hybrid of RASIN (Haitian Roots Vodou music), Hip Hop and Konpa. This exceptionally gifted and multi-faceted musician -he’s also an accomplished guitarist - writes music that reflects diversity and a powerful sense of place and time. His lastest CD release "Zinga".
By: Eddy Francois staff.
ARTIST SITE: http://www.myspace.com/eddyfrancois
 Lataye
Lataye represents the spiritual essence of all of the positive elements found in Haitian Vodou spirituality. This band has embarked on a spiritual journey by creating a new musical style stemming from traditional Haitian Vodou melodies and rhythms, bringing Haiti's Rasin Mizik (Roots Music) to new heights. Lataye's music is a dynamic mix of driving Haitian Vodou rhythms played on a variety of musical instruments coupled with astute arrangements and splendid choral hooks. Without losing the soulful essence and spiritual basis of traditional Haitian music, Lataye creates music which expresses change, unity and love. Take a listen to Lataye's debut album Tou Manbre (Fully Loaded). By: Dadisound Productions staff.
ARTIST SITE: http://www.myspace.com/latayemusic
 Machel Montano
Machel Montano and his band Xtatik have been the premier soca band in the Caribbean for more than a decade and have established themselves as the leading draw at major events in New York City, Miami, Toronto, and London and throughout the Caribbean Diasporas. Machel is recognized as the leading performer in the soca music genre and is highly regarded as well as a songwriter,producer and band leader. New for 2007, Machel's latest release "Book of Angels". By: Xtatik Productions staff.
ARTIST SITES: http://www.machelmontano.com/ http://www.myspace.com/machelmontanoandxtatik
 Sweet Micky
Michel Martelly, better known as "Sweet Micky", is a musical marvel born in Port-au-Prince who has brought incredible energy, passion and sensitivity to the world of Haitian compas music. While his persona ignites great controversy throughout the Haitian diaspora, it is overstated with a pulsating, infectious beat, accompanied by satire and sharp commentary. It can also be ever so softly understated with a lilting, dream-like cadence. The only thing which is predictable about Sweet Micky is that he is completely un-predictable. Over the past decade, Martelly has won the hearts of the Haitian people through his musical talent, irrepressible charm and charismatic persona. While he consistently shakes up the Haitian music world with new interpretations of compas, roots, salsa, Caribbean soca and jazz-fusion, he is steadily positioning himself for international recognition and popularity. By: Michel Martelly staff.
ARTIST SITE: http://www.myspace.com/haitianmicky
Additional Carnival Resources
 Read "What's Happening in the Caribbean January and February" from Caribbean Beat, The Caribbean's Favorite glossy magazine.
Good general info station on Trinidad carnival
http://www.izatrini.com/trinidad_carnival_2007.html
General Caribbean entertainment news site:
http://www.tropicalfete.com/
Can't get enough of the carnival vibe, visit TriniJungleJuice.com for music downloads, album reviews, latest carnival happenings and more! Let the juice flow!
Check out Island Events.com for the premier carnival experience. The website is home to entertainment-related content that appeals to the Caribbean audience as well persons interested in knowing more about the #1 carnival in the world, Trinidad and Tobago.
Read more about the roots of carnival celebrations from All ah We.
Founded in 1991, All Ah We adopted their name (a West Indian term meaning "all of us") to express our commitment to uniting people from all walks of life from all over the world. Through our programs, we reach out in an effort to break down the barriers that polarize our neighborhoods and to build bridges through culture.
First published: www.afropop.org
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