Join Haiti Cultural Exchange in partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 for a Haitian Flag Selebrasyon! Featuring live music by the renowned singer-songwriter, BélO, artisanal vendors and more!
5 – 8 pm (performance at 6:30 pm)
Prospect Park Boathouse & Audubon Center
101 East Dr, Brooklyn, NY 11225
About BélO
BélO has been hailed as Haiti’s musical ambassador to the world. A socially conscious singer-songwriter with a sophisticated sound and winner of numerous awards, including the prestigious “Prix Radio France International Discoveries of 2006,” BelO’s sound is a sublime mixture of Jazz, Worldbeat, Rock, Reggae and Afro- Haitian traditional rhythms known as “Ragganga”. With six albums already under his belt-“LAKOU TRANKIL” (2005) “REFERENCE” (2008), Haiti Debout (2011), Natif Natal (2014) Dizan (2016) and Motivasyon (2019) -sung in his rich and colorful native language, Haitian Creole, BélO has established himself as a Haitian-International artist signpost. After the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, BélO ‘s primary focus was to create awareness for his country at various performances around the world. BélO ‘s third album “HAITI DEBOUT,” (Haiti Stand-up -2011) was released under Radio France/France Info and distributed, globally, by Harmonia Mundi. During the ” HAITI DEBOUT ” tour, BélO has performed in Germany, Rome, Romania, France, South Korea, London, Canada and the U.S.
2023 Lakou NOU artist-in-residence Maxine Montilus’ movement project, “L’Espwa Pou Demen” (“Hope for Tomorrow”) came about from her collaboration with youth in the Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project, Brooklyn International High School and The Goddess Project. Maxine hosted poetry, movement, and visual arts workshops engaging young people around the questions: “What would Haitian youth like to see for the future of Haiti?” and “What do Haitian youth think Haiti needs to develop as a country?” Maxine has also been working with the Medgar Evers College Multimedia Dance Theater Ensemble to perform choreography inspired by young people’s visions for Haiti. For the Lakou NOU culminating event, Maxine will present a choreographic work that incorporates dance, music, poetry and video that centers embodied practice as cultural preservation, a testament to resilience, and hope for a peaceful future.
Dancers featured in the work are Shania Jones, Alyssa Wheeler, and Dejanae Singleton 4th dancer? from Medgar Evers College’s Multimedia Dance Ensemble. Poetry written and spoken by Maxine Montilus and Jessica Michel.
Vendors: TBD
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Prospect Park Alliance is the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s Backyard, in partnership with the City of New York. The Alliance provides critical staff and resources that keep the Park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home. Learn more at www.prospectpark.org.
