Stellar Haitian-Dominican Friendship Concert, Co-sponsored by GFDD

Stellar Haitian-Dominican Friendship Concert, Co-sponsored by GFDD
Washington, DC May 17, 2012

The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, The Smithsonian Latino Center, The Embassy of the Dominican Republic, The Embassy of Haiti, The Dominican Republic Tourist Board, in partnership with Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), presented the Haitian-Dominican Friendship Concert.

“This concert also furthers the work of the Smithsonian Latino Center to bring to light the history, art and culture of both Haiti and the Dominican Republic.”

The Haitian-Dominican Friendship Concert took place last night at the National Museum of Natural History with a full house (almost 600 seats), all of which were brought literally to their feet by the elegant ballroom-arranged merengue and son by Dominican music group Enriquillo Tejada y Los Clarinetes Mágicos, and the energetic notes of konpa and meringues by the popular Haitian group, Tabou Combo. Both bands are based in New York City and have received high accolades for their masterful interpretations of Afro-Caribbean musical genres.

The evening opened with the welcoming words of Eduardo Díaz, Director, Smithsonian Latino Center; Ligia Reid, representing the Dominican Republic Embassy; William Exantus, representing the Haitian Embassy; and Johnnetta B. Cole, Director of the National Museum of African Art, in a hall where both Dominicans, Haitians and members of the international community of Washington, DC enjoyed the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of well- known classics, dancing and singing along. The event celebrated the music of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, presenting the African-derived musical tradition of the two nations. GFDD was proud to be part of this initiative, which reinforces the work that the Smithonian Latino Center has been undertaking regarding African and indigenous legacy of the Caribbean. Groundbreaking research is currently underway in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Haiti and Jamaica.

“This project is important on many levels, including the fact that the Haitian and Dominican communities in the US are growing at a rapid rate, and their contributions and experiences can no longer remain hidden,” said Eduardo Díaz, Director of the Smithsonian Latino Center. “This concert also furthers the work of the Smithsonian Latino Center to bring to light the history, art and culture of both Haiti and the Dominican Republic.”

This was another opportunity to affirm the close relationship of the two neighboring countries that share the island of Hispaniola. These fraternal ties have been reinforced since the devastating earthquake that afflicted the Southern part of Haiti when the relief efforts and facilitation of the public, private sectors and civil society of the Dominican Republic proved to be decisive for the survival and well-being of so many. This friendship was reinforced by the delivery by President Fernández, last February 12, of a university in the Northern city of Cap Haitian with a capacity for 10,000 students.

GFDD’s sister organization in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), hosts a series of programs regarding Haitian-American relations, training and youth initiatives that serve as models for like-minded institutions interested in realizing similar work.

Related links:
http://haiti.org/
http://www.domrep.org/
http://latino.si.edu/
http://africa.si.edu/