ENTERTAINMENT
Haitian American publicity guru Marie Driven displaying her Haitian colors. Cliff/CliffArt Photography
Caribbean Life, JANUARY 8-14, 2021 33
By Nelson A. King
Even as she drives Caribbean
musical talent mainstream, Haitian
American publicity guru Marie
Driven has said she is driven to
show love for her native Haiti as the
French-speaking Caribbean country
celebrated its 217th Independence
Anniversary from France on Jan. 1.
Referring to Haiti as “her,” the
Brooklyn-based Haitian publicity
phenom recently did a photoshoot
commemorating the love she said
she has for her native country on
Haitian Independence Day.
“She has influenced and inspired
me to strive for new heights yearly
in my career,” Driven, the managing
partner of the Brooklyn-based entertainment
company, PlaybookMG, told
Caribbean Life, alluding to Haiti.
Driven said she dedicates “endless
time to ensure that one day she can
be an iconic figure from ‘her.’”
In the shoot, Driven has some
iconic items from “her”, including,
featured on a table, Barbancourt –
Rhum 5 star 8 year; Langue De Buoef;
Pain; Cola Lacaye, Dous Makos; and
Tablet Pistach.
Driven donned a “her-inspired”
robe designed by Hi Maintenance
Couture.
She said her love for “her” and everything
she has done “shine brightly
within ‘her’ soul.”
“Jan. 1 is the day Haiti proclaimed
herself to be a free, independent
nation,” Driven said. “She became
the first free Black republic in the
world.
Continued on Page 34
Se Joe, the Haitian-American ‘Eddie
Murphy’ of comedy.
Philip-Daniel Ducasse
By Nelson A. King
With over 36.5 million views on his
YouTube Channel, Haitian American
comedian, content king, influencer
and pioneer, Joseph “Se Joe” Ducasse,
dubbed the “Eddie Murphy” of Haitian-
American comedy, has now taken his
world renowned, critically-acclaimed
talents to Amazon Prime Video.
Se Joe’s #1 comedy special – “Nou
Chaje ak Pwoblèm” (Haitian creole),
meaning “We Got a Lot of Problems” –
Continued on Page 34
By Nelson A. King
Bahamian dance studio owner
Reequal Smith has brought “something
new” to the Canadian province of Prince
Edward Island (PEI), owning the only
Black dance company on the island.
Smith, the founder and artistic director
of Oshun Dance Studios, told Caribbean
Life, in an exclusive interview on
Sunday that she has taken “a leap of
faith” to pursue her longtime passion to
own the studios in Charlottetown, PEI.
Born and raised on the beautiful
Bahama islands, Smith said she grew
up in Nassau, and is an emerging professional
artist trained in ballet, jazz,
modern contemporary, African, aerial
ballet and fire dancing.
During her career, she said she has
performed in multiple shows in hotels
Continued on Page 34
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Haitian
comedy
Bahamian
dance studio
DRIVEN
BY
LOVE
Haitian publicity guru shows love for her (Haiti)
/ENTERTAINMENT
