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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251218
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SUMMARY:Mizik Ayiti! Residency Winter Series | Okai Musik
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Thursdays for the Mizik Ayiti! Residency Series. The Early Winter residency will be held by composer and multi-instrumentalist Okai Musik. \nBorn and raised in Brooklyn\, Okai Musik is a Haitian percussionist\, M.C.\, and producer who has captivated audiences globally with his extraordinary talents. With a deep-rooted passion for rhythm\, Okai embarked on his musical journey as a percussionist\, mesmerizing and healing listeners with his vibrating beats. His rhythmic expertise has taken him to North\, Central\, and South America\, Japan\, and Africa. \nHis genre expansive career throws original and national rhythm into dancing beat across Hip hop\, Afrohouse\, Afro-indigenous sound and beyond. \nOkai Musik’s six week residency at HCX will feature unique performances weekly\, including an album release party\, Afrolatino night and solo performances. Join our newsletter to stay up-to-date on these announcements by clicking the link in our footer. \n  \n—\nDates & Tickets \nGet your tickets today and don’t miss on on these incredible performances!\nPerformances will take place on Thursdays from December 18\, 2025 – February 5\, 2026 from 6-9pm.  \nThursday\, December 18 Tickets »\nThursday\, January 8 Tickets »\nThursday\, January 15 Tickets»\nThursday\, January 22 Tickets»\nThursday\, January 29 Tickets»\nThursday\, February 5 Tickets» \nTickets include a complimentary beverage.\nSpecial pop-up offerings with local Haitian restaurants.\nLimited capacity\, RSVP strongly recommended. \n  \n—\nAbout the musician \nOkai Musik‘s dedication to his craft knows no bounds. He has immersed himself in the rich tapestry of rhythms from the African diaspora\, mastering Bomba on the Barril drum from Puerto Rico\, Rumba and Son from Cuba on Congas\, Vodou rhythms from Haiti on the Rada and Petwo drums\, Cumbia and Bullerengue from Colombia on the Alegre drum\, and West African rhythms on the Djembe drum\, among others. His passion for exploring and preserving these diverse musical traditions showcases his commitment to honoring and sharing the cultural heritage and history of these communities. \nAs a talented M.C. and producer\, Okai showcases his creativity across many genres. His notable works include the albums “Tonight We Fly” (Afrohouse) from Oyasound\, “Dekonstruktion of the Mind” (Hip-Hop)\, and “Int’l Party” (Regime Change). Collaborating with singers\, rappers\, and producers\, Okai crafts a unique sound that resonates with listeners worldwide. He is also a co-founder and lead vocalist for Strings N Skins\, alongside Grammy-winning violinist La Lulu from Colombia\, and the lead vocalist of the acclaimed group Brown Rice Family\, which won the WNYC 2012 Battle of the Boroughs championship. Okai‘s exceptional talent even led him to perform at the Haitian Ambassador’s Ball in Bogota\, Colombia\, showcasing his percussion skills to the Colombian government. \nIn addition to percussion\, Okai is a seasoned conch shell player with a decade of experience. Playing the conch shell is a heartfelt ode to his Haitian ancestors and the indigenous Arawak and Taino people of the Caribbean. Through the evocative sounds of the conch shell\, Okai ensures that the spirits of his forebears are not forgotten. The conch shell serves as a universal healing instrument\, resonating in ceremonies and communication across cultures like India\, Tibet\, Nepal\, Hawaii\, and Ancient America. Okai‘s dedication to this ancient art form transcends borders\, creating a harmonious bridge between tradition and contemporary expression. \nIn the realm of dance\, Okai‘s rhythmic talents have been sought after by renowned dance ensembles such as Soles of Duende\, Bombazo Dance Company\, Kimani Fowlin\, Renegade Dance Company\, and Ase Dance Company. His rhythmic artistry has resonated through prestigious venues like Jacob’s Pillow\, Bates Dance Festival\, Gibney Dance\, The Joyce Theater\, Chelsea Factory\, Drew University Dance Department\, and Mark Morris Dance Company. \nIn addition to his performance career\, Okai is a dedicated teaching artist. He imparts his knowledge through collaborations with NYC-based non-profits\, including Little Orchestra\, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)\, Haiti Cultural Exchange\, Town Hall\, Brooklyn Museum\, and the Department of Education. He has facilitated drum and beat-making workshops at Carnegie Hall and Ifetayo\, inspiring musicians and fostering a deeper appreciation for percussion and producing. Okai‘s commitment to education and community outreach underscores his role as a cultural ambassador\, spreading the joy of music and empowering others through his teachings. https://okaimusik.com/  \n  \n—\nHCX | Mizik Ayiti! Residency \nHCX positions this invitational residency as an opportunity to innovate and workshop concepts and works-in-progress\, showcase new work\, and build networks for artists’ future presentation (e.g. booking\, touring) at other cultural institutions and stages. \nRarely do artists receive a consistent opportunity to create and share in “real time”–to develop their ideas in a beta form\, experiment\, and refine amidst presenting publicly. Over the course of 6 weeks\, resident artists receive a platform to fine tune approaches\, activate jam sessions\, and explore sonic possibilities while developing relationships with their audiences. \nOn Thursday evenings\, artist-composers host unique sets joined by a rotation of guest artists and ensembles. Performances offer the opportunity to showcase new work and workshop arrangements across the musical landscape\, from traditional genres reverberating the strength of the tanbou to the contemporary sound like fusion jazz and electronic music carrying Haitian vibration into the future.
URL:https://haiticulturalx.org/event/mizik-ayiti-residency-winter-series-okai-musik/
LOCATION:Haiti Cultural Exchange\, 35 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11217\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mizik Ayiti! Residency Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://haiticulturalx.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/OkaiMusik.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260219
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260327
DTSTAMP:20260403T165600
CREATED:20260204T230458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T230458Z
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SUMMARY:Mizik Ayiti! Residency Winter Series | Mikaëlle Aimée
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Thursdays for the Mizik Ayiti! Residency Series. The Winter residency will be held by Haitian-American singer-songwriter Mikaëlle Aimée. \nMikaëlle Aimée is a New York–based musician who brings jazz\, folk\, soul\, and vibrant Haitian musical traditions to life through her voice and guitar. \nMikaëlle Aimée’s six week residency at HCX will feature unique performances weekly. \n—\nDates & Tickets \nGet your tickets today and don’t miss out on these incredible performances!\nPerformances will take place on Thursdays from February 19\, 2026–March 26\, 2026\, 6-9pm.  \nGet your tickets to one\, or all these performances\, here »\nTickets include a complimentary beverage.\nSpecial pop-up offerings with local Haitian restaurants.\nLimited capacity\, RSVP strongly recommended. \n—\nAbout the musician \nMikaëlle Aimée is a Haitian-American singer-songwriter based in New York. She sings and plays guitar and has become known for her dazzling performance styles ranging from Jazz\, Folk\, Soul\, and across Haitian musical genres.  \nMikaëlle Aimée first debuted on the Haitian Music scene in 2009 where she began performing regularly for the variety shows Ayiti Deploge\, and Havana Guitar Night. She also participated heavily in the Port-au-Prince Jazz music scene between 2010 and 2014.  \nAs lead singer of the jazz band Kayel\, Mikaëlle Aimée held residence at the well-known Quartier Latin in Pétion-Ville\, Haiti from 2010 to 2013.  \nShe also hosted the popular television show “Metro Night” on Haiti’s Tele Metropole station between 2012 and 2014.  \nMikaëlle’s journey took an unexpected pivot when she found herself stranded in the US\, in Summer 2014\, due to passport complications. As luck would have it\, the travel delays would be the catalyst that jumpstarted her music career here in the US.     \nShe quickly plugged into the Haitian Jazz community and eventually joined some New York-based ensembles. She would later participate in the 2018 Apollo Theater Amateur Night\, where she reached the semi-finals\, marking her first major accomplishment on US soil. \nHer musical pursuits have taken her throughout the 5 boroughs\, New Jersey\, Philadelphia\, Connecticut\, Miami and Atlanta. Her international performances include Spain\, Jamaica\, and the Dominican Republic.  \nMikaëlle Aimée released the soulful ballad “Lay me Down” in 2019 and Kreyol Funk tune\, “Adye” in 2021.  \nShe is currently in the process of completing her first EP “Hope in Disguise”\, with Queens based Producer Gurpal X\, and is also working towards the release of several tracks in Haitian Creole.  \nIn 2025\, she created “Soirée Sérénade”\, a compilation of Haitian traditional and folk music\, french chansonettes\, jazz and bossa nova. It serves as a representation of what would be popular on the radio when she was a child. The purpose of this show is to unite Haitians with a voyage through time\, a bit of nostalgia for the exiled.  \nFor more information or booking\, please contact Mikaëlle Aimée at MikaelleAimee@gmail.com or visit her on Instagram @MikaelleAimee \n—\nHCX | Mizik Ayiti! Residency \nHCX positions this invitational residency as an opportunity to innovate and workshop concepts and works-in-progress\, showcase new work\, and build networks for artists’ future presentation (e.g. booking\, touring) at other cultural institutions and stages. \nRarely do artists receive a consistent opportunity to create and share in “real time”–to develop their ideas in a beta form\, experiment\, and refine amidst presenting publicly. Over the course of 6 weeks\, resident artists receive a platform to fine tune approaches\, activate jam sessions\, and explore sonic possibilities while developing relationships with their audiences. \nOn Thursday evenings\, artist-composers host unique sets joined by a rotation of guest artists and ensembles. Performances offer the opportunity to showcase new work and workshop arrangements across the musical landscape\, from traditional genres reverberating the strength of the tanbou to the contemporary sound like fusion jazz and electronic music carrying Haitian vibration into the future.
URL:https://haiticulturalx.org/event/mizik-ayiti-residency-winter-series-mikaelle-aimee/
LOCATION:Haiti Cultural Exchange\, 35 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11217\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mizik Ayiti! Residency Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://haiticulturalx.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MizikAyiti_FY26_Website_Graphic_Mikaelle-Aimee.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260416
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260515
DTSTAMP:20260403T165600
CREATED:20260403T201648Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T201648Z
UID:18547-1776297600-1778803199@haiticulturalx.org
SUMMARY:Mizik Ayiti! Residency Spring Series | Twoubadou Lakay
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Thursdays for the Mizik Ayiti! Residency Series. The Spring residency will be held by Twoubadou Lakay. \nTwoubadou Lakay is a collective of master musicians rooted in the rich traditions of Haitian music. The ensemble blends the storytelling spirit and dancing guitars of Haitian Twoubadou with deep Haitian rhythms\, jazz sensibilities\, and improvisational dialogue. Twoubadou Lakay is tradition reimagined through a contemporary lens. Their sound is both intimate and expansive—grounded in lakou culture\, yet reaching across the diaspora—creating a musical space where heritage\, memory\, and innovation meet.  \nTwoubadou Lakay’s Haiti Cultural Exchange residency will feature core members Bobby Raymond\, Markus Schwartz\, Gary Josama\, Gama Josama\, Joe Montour\, Camille Hostin and Roland Cameau in revolving formations. Twoubadou Lakay invites audiences into a living\, breathing experience of Haitian musical expression—honoring the past while shaping its future. \nTwoubadou Lakay’s five-week residency at HCX will feature unique performances weekly. \n—\nDates & Tickets \nGet your tickets today and don’t miss out on these incredible performances!\nPerformances will take place on Thursdays April 16\, 23\, 30 and May 7 and 14\, 2026.\n6-9pm  \nGet your tickets to one\, or all these performances\, here »\nTickets include a complimentary beverage.\nSpecial pop-up offerings from Bon Pâtés.\nLimited capacity\, RSVP strongly recommended. \n—\nHCX | Mizik Ayiti! Residency \nHCX positions this invitational residency as an opportunity to innovate and workshop concepts and works-in-progress\, showcase new work\, and build networks for artists’ future presentation (e.g. booking\, touring) at other cultural institutions and stages. \nRarely do artists receive a consistent opportunity to create and share in “real time”–to develop their ideas in a beta form\, experiment\, and refine amidst presenting publicly. Over the course of 6 weeks\, resident artists receive a platform to fine tune approaches\, activate jam sessions\, and explore sonic possibilities while developing relationships with their audiences. \nOn Thursday evenings\, artist-composers host unique sets joined by a rotation of guest artists and ensembles. Performances offer the opportunity to showcase new work and workshop arrangements across the musical landscape\, from traditional genres reverberating the strength of the tanbou to the contemporary sound like fusion jazz and electronic music carrying Haitian vibration into the future.
URL:https://haiticulturalx.org/event/mizik-ayiti-residency-spring-series-twoubadou-lakay/
LOCATION:Haiti Cultural Exchange\, 35 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11217\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mizik Ayiti! Residency Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://haiticulturalx.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Twoubadou-Lakay.png
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