Haitian Students Association of Columbia University and Barnard College

Hosted by Ruthzee Louijeune, a senior who is majoring in Political Science at Columbia University, this event brought to light the beauty of Haiti through arts.  Present at the event, exhibiting their arts, among others were Frantz Baltazar and the famous artist and painter Billy Fleurima of Brooklyn, whose paintings captured the attention of the general audience.  It was a night of pride for Haiti by Haitians and friends of Haiti.

As joked one of the organizers, there is no Haitian event without food, and so, delicious Haitian cuisine was served as the audience learned about Haitian culture, particularly, the meaning and origin of Rara.  To depict the origin of Rara, Director Jeremy Robins and Producer Magali Damas showcased their upcoming documentary entitled “The Other Side of the Water”, literally means in Haitian creole “Lòt Bò Dlo” featuring Dja Rara of Brooklyn. 

The other Side of the Water explores what happens when a group of young immigrants take a Vodou-based music from the hills of Haiti and reinvent it on the streets of Brooklyn.  The journey of this unlikely band reveals an explosive world of survival, spirituality, and cultural activism in the Haitian-American experience.

“Rara” is part-carnival, part-vodou ceremony, and part-grassroots protest, and is one of the most breathtaking and contested forms of music in the Americas.  This documentary follows the journey of DJA Rara, the only sustained rara band in America-through hidden landscape of vodou temples, underground economies, violent politics, and ground-shaking music.  This is a great production which will contribute greatly in expanding Haitian culture to new heights. 

As part of its mission on campus and throughout New York City for that matter, the Haitian Students Association of Columbia University and Barnard College is working tirelessly to “empower Haitians and the community by spreading the beauty and joy of Haitian culture”.  I must say that though I have attended a lot of events by Haitian Students Associations throughout NYC, this group is thus far the most focused and readily prepared to carry the torch to new grounds.  Or could their success be attributed to the fact that this group is only composed of women?  Yes, six young brilliant Haitian women head this group.  We can only hope that they are joined shortly by other young talented Haitian males on campus.  Bravo ladies! 

Click here for pictures of this event

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