25491: Wah: (announce) HAA Event (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Marcel Wah <marcel.wah@studiowah.com>

Pascal Garoute wrote:
 From: "Pascal Garoute"
 To: haaorg@yahoo.com
 Subject: HAA superb night of BAMBOCH CREOLE!
 Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 01:01:29 +0000

 Greetings all,

 Many in New York look forward to an annual evening initiated by The
 Haitian American Alliance. Last year many pondered had the organization
 collapsed. It is evident that this recent June 18th 2005, 9th annual
 'BAMBOCHE' put all inquisitiveness to rest.  Will you follow me please?

 The event: Bamboche Creole
 The host: Haitian American Alliance
 The HAA family for years has caught my attention. I supported them and
 engaged many to attend their past events. Yearly this organization sends
 out a call to the community to join hands, activate awareness, rejoice and
 raise money.  The funding needed to back their many year round activities
 serving neighboring centers, encouraging higher learning and rewarding
 many proving worthy of the HAA scholarships enabling a stepping stone for
 a great future.

 Some members of this organization have been friends for years. They have
 earned my respect and I must share that Tatiana has for years joined my
 secret list of most admired Haitians. Of course being a Wah increased the
 margin of affection ten folds, yet-alone fully founded on her own merit, I
 greatly admire this young lady.

 It has been a month since I had been sending emails to folks I knew would
 take interests on that party. The invitation from many part of the HAA and
 friends made its round on the net. Responses were pretty fair from the
 launching however steep the one hundred dollar price tag allowing access
 to the festivity appeared.

 I have to say this year I had my own added interest attending this
 gathering although having left NY a year and a half now. My sister Klode
 illustrated the invitation card and her displayed art pieces raising funds
 for the scholarship program of HAA and my dad was one of the four honorees
 that night. Chris, Gaby and I flew to NY Friday anticipating a return for
 Monday. Making up for the missing link, my brother Tony joined our party
 at the airport prior to dropping on our three extended set of parents'
 arms at the family quarter in Washington Heights for what turned out to!
 be a wonderful long, busy and exhausting weekend.

 The location: 'Post Meredian' is quite a novelty I must say for not only
 its leading location and well diverse patronage, but- the proprietor.

 I congratulate its owner for its vision adding new incentive for Haitians
 to take pride in and join hands in offer of support. The first second one
 enters the room-you would not question the décor twice.  Identifiable
 artifacts boosting one's cultural heritage hinted 'Haitianness' to its
 root. Indeed the club is Haitian owned. Located in the busy and touristy
 Downtown section of the newly and improved area known as the 'Meat
 District' in lower Manhattan, my family had stopped at the club- 'Post
 Meredian,' also branded as 'The pmlounge' during the day to set up the art
 work, we then returned at six thirty to an already in motion floor.

 A well coordinated night I confess of this Haitian American Alliance
 event!

 Ample hosts flooded the club's floor throughout the night. Some flanked
 two entrances greeting guests with programs, beads and straw Zaka hats-
 courteous, colorful and able servers passed on hors d' oeuvres wearing
 traditional clothing and wonderful head wraps. What I like most is the
 fact that throughout the night, guests had time to enjoy their drinks and
 meals and TALK to one another circulating about the packed room. On cue,
 appetizers, dinner and desert were served as the conversation flow
 remained constant. Hugs and happy greetings were exchanged clearly proving
 palpable the key ingredient predisposing one to memorable 'bamboche
 Creole-' camaraderie!

 The background music prior to showtime was impeccable!

  Damn!  Who was this DJ? His rendition sure could serve a perfect example
 to anybody hired to participate at a cultural event tagged Haitian at a
 turntable. Well perched, his selection of music was excellent. Guests at
 their seats or walking about swayed from one selection to the other.
 There was no culture shock between his choices, nor did chatterers have to
 fight to keep a dialogue going over the blast. Superb job DJ!

 Many were being honored that night:

 I want to say bravo to the scholarship recipients:

 Edwine Etienne, Vanna Albert, McKendy Cadet, Cynthia Jean-Baptiste and
 thank for going the longer route taking their studies seriously and being
 superb role models for their peers!

 I want to congratulate the four honorees:

 -Distinguished for outstanding work & Devotion for Community and culture
 through Architecture- Architect/Designer Rodney Leon

 -Distinguished Educator for outstanding work advocating for children-
 Micheline Cadet Duval

  -Outstanding Community Activist & Service leader for his contribution &
 commitment to promoting awareness of Haitian causes though Music- Wyclef
 Jean

 -A devoted Renaissance Man whose lifetime Achievement has greatly
 contributed to the advancement of Haitian Art and Culture- Jean Claude
 Garoute- Tiga

  My reservation prior to the night.Upon reading the invitation the choice
 of music predicted by the special guest had somewhat put a damper on my
 parade since I am not fond of Hip Hop at all.at all! Yet, having lived
 this HAA gathering will allow all to reflect on a new facet of the man
 many know and label Wyclef Jean.

 Having seen/heard him live before at a pre-Carnaval Labor Day night TVice
 party, in him, I approved a superb entertainer he could be, yet-his mostly
 branded Hip-Hop star failed to fuel my enthusiasm counting the days to
 this particular event fearing I'd yarn to boredom at a beat securing this
 singer's popularity in the international forum. I fear undeterred my
 dislike for the type of music many tag as Hip-Hop. Yet-I was more than
 appreciative to have been offered along with the majority of the audience
 no longer teenagers I might add a wonderful medley of Kompa Rara serenade
 full of improvisation Wyclef style!

 A warm conversationalist too I discovered in the entertainer. Quite
 frankly that night he opened a new window passing the original limited
 respect I always had for anyone doing what they believe in. With
 magnetism, in his acceptance speech a clear and simply motivating message
 encouraging all to act upon their words in their support for Haiti, he
 brought all ears to the reality at hands, commenting on a recent trip to
 several hardcore areas of the capital and Gonaives making of fun of Doctor
 Jean Claude Compas for his guts, endurance and bravura entering spots most
 would run from facing heavy machineries especially at this chaotic time in
 the capital.  Wyclef bestowed upon the benevolent Haitian Doctor Compas
 the tag- 'GANSTA' for accompanying him on this sometimes dangerous trip in
 parts of Haiti.

 He was also blunt in the fact that he knows many Haitians for whatever
 reasons do not like him- it's all good, he said as long as they don't come
 near him as he flexed his muscles confiding he is a remarkable boxer.

 He allowed us all a corridor to his past, his Dad's standing against his
 choice of music and his Mother's support throughout the hardship facing
 all teens in the streets of our cities, drugs, prison, death and strong a
 young man must remain bypassing the easy money so available in the
 streets. He touched his present, acknowledging his 'Fugees' right hand man
 Praz on stage, his bro and his band. He sent the crowd to burst of
 laughter and showers of applaud throughout the night.  His attention to
 details won my heart that night. Rap will never find an ally in me but, I
 found out that night this man is much more then a beat he most times play
 that I can't stand, he is a true blue down right cool caring ally of a
 country I cherish.

 For that reason I stand today saying: Wyclef Ayibobo pou ou!

 His guitar showmanship as he dropped Kompa and Rara rhythms kept the floor
 to a standing ovation. No one remained seated! My parents were hilariously
 enjoying the ongoing beats. I was wondering when one of the three would
 drop, they never did. Even when I took a break-Mom-Ed my step Dad, and
 Tiga could be seen twirling on the dance floor.  My brother could not keep
 up; he wondered how anyone can do this week in week out.

 This rhythm demands stamina and can keep one going and going. True.dancing
 is contagious and truer still Haitian Rara music is intoxicating!  And, so
 too are the many notable aspects of this Haitian culture that we value and
 wish to preserve.

 I congratulate and thank each and all part of the HAA family. The Board of
 Directors: Tatiana Wah, Yolette Williams, Gardy Boyer, Jean Claude Compas,
 Henry Paul, Linda Thelemaque, France Brutus, Junith Webson, Cathy Nazon
 and Max Fleurimond. Thank you for a wonderful and great BAMBOCH NIGHT!

 I also want to thank UNIK for his ground-breaking opening move opening and
 offering the 'PM Lounge' to all to gather as he exposes our culture and I
 am pleased that he joined forces with HAA for this exceptional event.

 On behalf of my own family and all Haitian artists, I want to thank HAA
 for always including and uplifting the visual arts! Towards a successful
 year anticipating a great tenth annual event HAA boule gra!


 Pascal Garoute- Kafe
 Utopia Art & Entertainment Inc
 Lauderhill, FLorida 33351



Haitian American Alliance of NY, Inc 210 Linden Boulevard Brooklyn, NY
11226 Tel: 718-284-8458 Fax: 718-284-8491

--
STUDIO WAH
Phone 510-435-0484
Fax 510-619-9548
http://www.studiowah.com
email: marcel.wah@studiowah.com