Author: Opastaff
Mesac Damas was born on July 2, 1976, in Haiti, into a family plagued by domestic violence and poverty, elements that foreshadowed the grim chapters of his life. Raised as an Evangelical Christian by his parents until they emigrated to the United States, leaving 10-year-old Mesac in the care of relatives who practiced Haitian Voodoo, the conflicting spiritual influences in his formative years shaped a complex inner world. Damas migrated to the United States at 19, and by 33, he was working as a chef in a local ale house, claiming to be “the best of the best” in his…
With former member Georgy Métellus performing on the Compas Festival stage with them in Miami, Zin has deliverer one of the best performances we’ve seen from them since the new millennium and also one of the historical acts to ever take in that festival’s 11 year history. After the impressive show, fans and critiques alike are pondering and speculating on which direction will they go from here. Will they build on the much needed momentum and include Georgy back in their team or was this just a one-time performance? Rumors abound that there is an upcoming tour with the Princess…
By all accounts, the prisons in Haiti are some of the worst in the world. The prisoners have little access to medical treatment, and even, in some cases, to adequate food and clean water. At one prison in Port-au-Prince, the average cell space per prisoner is 0.42 meters square. That’s less than the the amount of space you’d need to stand up and swing your arms around. Imagine living with other people at that distance from you, sleeping in shifts because you can’t all lie down at the same time. Add in, of course, inadequate toilet facilities, disease and danger.…
Buju Banton featuring Wyclef Jean “Bedtime Story.” June 14, 2009 by Opa MUsic Buju Banton (born Mark Anthony Myrie, 1973, Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae musician. He has recorded Pop and Dance songs, as well as songs dealing with political topics. Banton, is politically outspoken and influenced by Marcus Garvey Buju Banton ft Wyclef Jean: Bedtime Story 2006 saw the release of the critically acclaimed “Too Bad,” his first dancehall orientated album in over a decade. Voicing riddims produced by many of Jamaica’s top producers Buju showed he still had what it took to be at the…
Miami, FL – June 14, 2009 — For the first time ever, Barikad Crew is set to introduce their Creole Hip-Hop to the vibrant city of Miami. The groundbreaking performance promises to immerse a new audience in their socially conscious lyrics, thought-provoking themes, and infectious beats. After a successful run in New York City and extensive touring across their native Haiti, Barikad Crew is ready to take Miami by storm. Despite a challenging year marked by the tragic loss of several band members in a car accident, Barikad Crew has emerged resilient and stronger than ever. Their hits, including “Welcome…
First, Gabel would like to thank the media, the fans and the public as a whole for their support to the band and especially to the last album: “Jenou sou Jenou”. As we are getting into the summer, Gabel would like to take the opportunity to inform the public on the band’s status, upcoming projects, and calendar. We are proud to announce that as of June 10, 2009, Gabel has signed its first corporate endorsement contract with No Pin Long Distance. A private celebration was held between No Pin’s corporate officers and the band members on Thursday June 11, 2009 to…
Each year Haitians in the Tri-State area gather on Nostrand Ave to celebrate Haitian Flag Day and Culture with music, parade and lots of fun. The parade kicks off at 1pm on Toussaint L’Ouverture Blvd, a.k.a. Nostrand Ave. Leading the parade was the “Evangelical Church” members who march down Nostrand Avenue singing gospel Konpa with trumpets and instruments backing them up. As the parade progressed, The Haitian Konpa band, Chale Mizik made their first appearance at the parade. Everyone waved their flag with pride as the parade marched down the Avenue. After the parade there’s usually a festival with music…
KREYOLFEST Announces Lineup Change: ROCKFAM Excluded from Festival New York, NY – May 22, 2009 — As the countdown to KREYOLFEST approaches the one-month mark, festival preparations are in full swing. However, the organizers, The Haitian Times, have announced a significant change to the lineup that festival-goers should be aware of. The popular band ROCKFAM LAME A will no longer be part of the festival’s roster. The decision to remove ROCKFAM from the lineup was not made lightly. The change comes after The Haitian Times was informed by representatives of Barikad Crew that they preferred not to share the stage…
Thousands attend for music and fun in the sun for 1st annual Fort Lauderdale Haitian Compas Festival Lauderhill, FL–May 17–Al Haitian Compas Festival Fort Lauderdale shocked many as they actually pulled in a good several thousand people into the Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale. Despite all of the drama and controversy surrounding the event, this year’s 1st edition proved impervious to the negativity as thousands came out to support the movement. While final reports from sources estimated ~5,000 people at the park, the festival organizers state otherwise. “We made it. We had over 10,000 people at the park,”…
On Saturday, May 16, 2009, the 11th Annual Compas Festival took place at Bicentennial Park in Downtown Miami, featuring a lineup that included many of the hottest bands in the Haitian music industry. Unlike previous years, this festival included over 15 bands, a potential stage management nightmare. To address this, the organizers set up two stages to cut down on dead time and keep the festival on schedule. Initially, the two-stage setup seemed promising, but as the evening progressed, it became clear that it presented more challenges than solutions. The crew struggled to manage the double stage setup, resulting in…