WIADCA Chair Michelle
Gibbs said: ‘We are planning for
our future now by leading with
our youth as our focal point,
and our community members
and partners as our foundation.
“As North America’s oldest
Caribbean cultural institution
– contributor to the city’s
economic stability and growth
— we produce several yearround
community programs
for youth, adults and seniors,”
she added.
Gibbs said the annual signature
events, featuring several
cultural and musical ambassadors,
are set to take place live
during New York’s Caribbean
Carnival Week at the Brooklyn
Museum.
Regarding COVID protocols
for planned events, she said several
guidelines are in place “to
activate testing, vaccine education,
and verification and temperature
checks.
“I would like to thank all
our elected official from the
city and state for your continued
support,” Gibbs said. “We
could not have done this without
you.”
On Friday, WIADCA features
“Welcome Back! New York Carnival
‘Sweetest ImageNation Outdoors Festival
Girl’
resident, “The Sweetest Girl”
is a short film that pays homage
to Grammy Award-winning
and now recently Emmy-nominated
artist, Wyclef Jean.
Desouvre told Caribbean
Life that the film is “filled
with heart and hope during
these trying times in Haiti and
around the world.”
He said he and his childhood
friends of 30 years, and
now award-winning filmmakers,
Harry Jeudy (executive
producer, co-screenwriter) and
Samuel Ladouceur (director)
reunited in August 2020 during
the 2020 peak of the COVID-19
to write, produce and direct
this moving short film.
“This short not only honors
their Haitian American
heritage, it’s a love letter of
hope that pays homage to their
childhood hero, Grammy Winner
and Haitian American artist
Wyclef Jean, whose music
helped these filmmakers heal
2021” | 7:00 pm - 2:00
am.: a Caribbean music fest featuring
through bouts of xenophobia
and bullying, which negatively
affected their mental health,
and hopes to bounce back from
these traumatic moments,
stronger and more resilient,”
Desouvre said.
“With their film, touching
on universal themes of love,
hope and redemption, this
compelling short film, from a
brotherhood of three decades
is committed, with ‘The Sweetest
Girl’, to bounce back from
these traumatic moments,
strong and more resilient with
better days ahead,” he added.
Caribbean Life, A 30 UG. 27-SEPT. 2, 2021
artists and music from
the Diaspora, including Iwer
George (2020 Power Soca Monarch
Trinidad); Blaxx (Trinidad);
Linky First - Mr. “Rock
and Come In” (Jamaica); and
Adrian Dutchin & Dem Guyanese
Boyz.
During this event, WIADCA
said DJ Stakz will pay tribute
to the late Jacob Desvarieux,
guitarist and lead singer of
Kassav, and Herman Nau, cofounder
and drummer of Tabou
Combo.
Music will be supplied by
DJ Pink Assassin, DJ Stakz, DJ
Norie (Power 105) and One Gyal
Army. Admission: Eventbrite
https://bit.ly/3yHopzp
Saturday features the Virtual
International Youth Fest 2021 |
11:00 am.
WIADCA said it is an end
of summer Caribbean talent
showcase, “where all performances
are welcome.”
Among the featured acts are:
Trinidad All Stars Youth Steel
Orchestra, Kezia Sealy, Besties,
KiMarli Jeffrey, Kamarly
Simpson (Da Big Show), Kai-
Anthony Salazar, A’Janae King-
Fraser, Dabria Baptiste, Kurlise
Bentham, Mitchila Williams,
WIADCA Chair Michelle Gibbs (center) with Roberto D. Perez, Commissioner, Community
Affairs Unit, Offi ce of the Mayor, and Josephine Singh, WIADCA volunteer. Photo by Nelson A.
King
Shola Roberts Dance Troop,
Impression Dance Theater and
Batingua Arts. Virtual admission
will be via www.wiadcacarnival.
org, with “donations
appreciated.”
Saturday also highlights “Pan
Jamboree” | 7:00 p.m. – 12:00
a.m., “complete with live performances
from New York’s premiere
bands,” such as D’Radoes,
Steel Sensation, Hearts of Steel,
Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra,
Metro Steel Orchestra, Khuentertainment
and Harmony Music
Makers.
“This event offers patrons an
immersive 360-degree viewing
experience,” WIADCA assured.
“Don’t miss your chance to select
a winner with a coveted People’s
Choice Award.” Admission:
Eventbrite https://bit.ly/3yHUIya
On Monday, Labor Day, WIADCA
said “the ultimate New York
Carnival day experience, ‘Jus like
Mas’, takes place from 11:00 a.m.
to 6:00 pm.
“Get your costumes or Monday
wear ready and join us at
Brooklyn Museum in Di Big
Yard,” it urged, stating that the
package includes drinks, music
trucks and live performances.
Admission: www.carnival.nyc or
wiadcacarnival.org.
Continued from Page 29
Producer and Co Screenwriter
of “The Sweetest Girl”,
Yanatha Desouvre. Amy Desouvre
Continued from Page 29
The 2019 Academy Awardwinning
short film “Hair
Love” by Matthew Cherry
will also be screened, as
well as short works by New
York City-based filmmakers,
including Christine Turner’s
“Betye Saar: Taking Care of
Business”; two films from
HCCI Filmmaker Training
Program – Sheila Prevost’s
“Dusk, Mask, Soul” and Ashley
Denise Robinson’s “Dead
Beat.”
“Adventures of Booga and
Mommy” by Jermaine Smith
will also be featured in the
festival, ImageNation said.
It said a new partnership
with the Rejoice/Resist Festival
will feature a sidebar,
including a block party with
an outdoor art exhibit, vendors,
a panel discussion on
activism, and screenings
from the RIZZLE/RejoiceResist
film collection on Sunday,
Aug. 29.
On Monday, Aug. 30, Black
Public Media will co-present
PBS’s award-winning film
“The Neutral Ground,” a documentary
about documentary
about memory, monuments
and America’s confederate
past.
This year, ImageNation
Outdoors said it is supported
by Bronx Terminal Market’s
Films on the Rooftop,
East River Plaza, Black Public
Media, Harlem Week, the
New York City Department
of Parks and Recreation,
Rejoice/Resist Film Festival,
and the Frederick Douglass
Blvd. Alliance.
Launched in 2002 with a
single screening for 300 people,
ImageNation Outdoors
said it has grown to draw
nearly 10,000 attendees each
summer.
ImageNation Outdoors said
it is the only summer-long
festival dedicated to films and
music about the Black global
experience.
“Post COVID-19, we are
excited to return to a more
robust outdoor season,” said
ImageNation founder Moikgantsi
Kgama. “This year is all
about fun. We programmed a
NYC indie horror premiere,
anime, lots of family-friendly
kids programs, and shorts
from local directors. There’s
something for everyone.”
ImageNation Outdoors
said highlights over the years
have included drive-in movies
during COVID-19; the world’s
longest Soul Train line; the
100th Anniversary of South
Africa’s African National Congress
in Central Park; talkbacks
with heralded talent,
such as Jesse Williams and
ASAP Ferg; and live performances
by Talib Kweli, Goapele
and Les Nubians.
Masks are recommended
for all participants and social
distancing is required. All
events are free and open to
the public.
Led by Moikgantsi Kgama,
founder and executive director,
and her husband Gregory
Gates, executive producer,
ImageNation said it has hosted
film screenings, live music
performances and other cultural
events for more than
150,000 people worldwide
since its inception in New
York City in 1997.
Continued from Page 29
CARNIVAL REBIRTH
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