Interview with Roberto Martino, T-Vice

Every month, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex hosts an event called Conversations With. It is a Happy Hour Networking event that features a prominent member of the Haitian/Haitian American community. You drink, eat, and mingle to your hearts content, until the featured speaker shares his/her story.








This past weekend, Roberto Martino, lead singer of the Haitian Konpa band, T-Vice was the featured speaker. Before he hit the stage, I had the pleasure of a one on one interview with him. I found him Very down to earth and open to share himself with his fans.

Click here for the full interview.

After the interview, the singer took to the stage to share the tale of T-Vice from his point of view. Personally I had not become familiar with the band until my late teens, so the band's history was very enlightening. They suffered ups and downs as most entertainers do, and had moments where they almost left it all behind. But as Roberto shared, the love of the music and the love they had for their fans kept them from walking away.

The event closed out with him announcing an upcoming album and answering questions from the crowd. I asked a question that many T-Vice fans wanted to know. What started the beef between T-Vice and Djakout #1? The answer is in the video below.

Click here to watch the video.

Perhaps the next interview will be with the younger brother, Reynaldo Martino. You'll have to stay tuned to found out.

Until then
Na we pita/A plus tard

ITS CARNIVAL!!!!!!!

Yesterday was the 2015 Miami Broward Carnival. A celebration held in sunny South Florida where all the caribbean islands are represented via Mas Bands, colorful costumes, music and food all in one place.

Last year was my first time attending carnival and I must say I had a blast. The Haitians were out there in full swing representing the bleu et rouge alongside our brothers and sisters from the other islands. Kompa, reggae, soca and reggaeton filled the air as scantily clad men and women gouye and busted a whine in the streets. The parade encircled the South Campus of FIU before entering the carnival grounds for the day's main events. After walking alongside some of the most popular Mas Bands and seeing all the fun the people had masquerading I declared that next year I would not attend as a spectator but as a costume wearing player.

Interviewing Dr Shaquille O'neal and Wyclef Jean

This past Saturday evening, October 3, 2015, I had the opportunity to attend the celebration of Barry University's 75th Anniversary. A 1940's themed event held to honor the family of the founders and to allow the alumni, current students and community leaders to mix and mingle and celebrate 75 years of higher education and community involvement.

Bowl for Education

      
Celebrating Haitian Heritage Month goes much farther than waving the Blue and Red flag, eating tassot and partying at Compas Fest. Haitians and Haitian Americans everywhere do their parts to share their favorite aspects of Haitian culture and history with the rest of the world. But the question that comes to mind is, what about Haiti? How does Haiti benefit from HHM?





Well this year a good friend of mine, Mrs Wanda wanted to do her part in helping Haiti directly. Partnered along with other Haitian Americans, not to mention a Haitian American themed radio show aka The Morning Drive on WSRF 1580AM (shameless plug), Mrs Wanda and the L'union Suite kicked off the 1st Annual Strike for Education Charity Bowl. A bowling tournament featuring some of today's most popular Haitian American entrepreneurs, personalities and artists whose proceeds go to benefit Fleur De Vie: Flower Of Life. 

Vote for RHONEL for Mr May 18th

The month of May and Haitian Heritage Month have finally come around again!!! A full month dedicated to uplifting Haitian culture to the fullest! Haitian food, music, art, history, language and much more put on display for the rest of the world to appreciate!!! Red and Blue flags will be draped everywhere, kompa music will be blaring and shouts of "Sak Pase, Nap Boule" will ring in the streets!!!!




A few major events happening in Miami to commemorate this month are the 2nd Annual Haitian Parents Be Like Comedy Show, the 4th Annual Taste of Haiti and the 17th Annual Haitian Compas Festival. Comedians, chefs and musicians will be traveling from places such as New York, Haiti and parts of Europe to share their talents with the people of Miami. Just the same, people will be flocking from all over the globe to take part in the festivities in Miami. (We do have the largest population of the Haitian diaspora in the U.S.A.)