2008 Woodie Awards
Carimi entertains, supports charity
Rachel Zarrell
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: The Inside
The Curry Student Center Ballroom got a taste of Haiti Saturday night when the Haitian Student Unity (HSU) hosted the band Carimi as part of its efforts to collect school supplies for charity.
The predominantly Haitian audience came en masse from schools around the East Coast. Many said they had grown up listening to the popular Haitian band.
"The reason we decided to bring them is because they're one of the most well known Haitian bands in America and internationally," said Carline Bernard, HSU president. "Usually in their songs they relate a lot of issues that are going on in Haiti, when it comes to poverty, political things. … Usually their music sends out a message."
Although the event was free, HSU asked students to donate school supplies at the entrance. The supplies will be donated to a developing elementary school in southern Haiti through a nonprofit, the EDEM Foundation.
Guests were anything but frugal in their donations, far exceeding the expectations HSU had for the event.
"People are not bringing just a box of pens, but they're bringing bags and boxes of stuff," Bernard said.
After passing through the requisite metal detectors, most students in the ballroom danced in pairs to the up-tempo Caribbean pop.
Guy Armand, a senior electrical engineering major, said he grew up listening to Carimi's "sensual" music.
"This is my culture," Armand said. "This is my heritage."
The eight-person band, which also played at Northeastern in 2004, complimented each other with a rhythmic blend of instruments including congas, guitars and a cowbell, and at times four separate singers.
"To hear a live Haitian band is like no other," said Bernard, who saw the band perform her freshman year. "It's kind of like a Haitian tradition."
Carimi's last performance sold out the ballroom. However, keyboardist and singer Karl Vieux, who described the band as "the top in the industry," said the band has changed since Northeastern last saw them.
"We grew as a band," he said. "Before it was just six of us, now it's eight. It's going to be very up-tempo, upbeat."
HSU allowed students to invite peers as long as they gave advance notice. Haitians and Carimi fans from locations more than an hour away, including Rhode Island, Connecticut and Long Island, showed up to dance.
"It's kind of like a Haitian bonding experience," said Gisland Montour, a sophomore at Boston University.
Many of those on the dance floor said they were looking forward to dancing some "kompa," a native dance and music style of Haiti.
Williana Desravines, a sophomore math and psychology major, said she enjoyed Carimi because Haitian music and dancing is different from popular American styles.
"[Haitians] dance different. Our rhythms are different," she said. "The songs are much longer. We dance very close."
The predominantly Haitian audience came en masse from schools around the East Coast. Many said they had grown up listening to the popular Haitian band.
"The reason we decided to bring them is because they're one of the most well known Haitian bands in America and internationally," said Carline Bernard, HSU president. "Usually in their songs they relate a lot of issues that are going on in Haiti, when it comes to poverty, political things. … Usually their music sends out a message."
Although the event was free, HSU asked students to donate school supplies at the entrance. The supplies will be donated to a developing elementary school in southern Haiti through a nonprofit, the EDEM Foundation.
Guests were anything but frugal in their donations, far exceeding the expectations HSU had for the event.
"People are not bringing just a box of pens, but they're bringing bags and boxes of stuff," Bernard said.
After passing through the requisite metal detectors, most students in the ballroom danced in pairs to the up-tempo Caribbean pop.
Guy Armand, a senior electrical engineering major, said he grew up listening to Carimi's "sensual" music.
"This is my culture," Armand said. "This is my heritage."
The eight-person band, which also played at Northeastern in 2004, complimented each other with a rhythmic blend of instruments including congas, guitars and a cowbell, and at times four separate singers.
"To hear a live Haitian band is like no other," said Bernard, who saw the band perform her freshman year. "It's kind of like a Haitian tradition."
Carimi's last performance sold out the ballroom. However, keyboardist and singer Karl Vieux, who described the band as "the top in the industry," said the band has changed since Northeastern last saw them.
"We grew as a band," he said. "Before it was just six of us, now it's eight. It's going to be very up-tempo, upbeat."
HSU allowed students to invite peers as long as they gave advance notice. Haitians and Carimi fans from locations more than an hour away, including Rhode Island, Connecticut and Long Island, showed up to dance.
"It's kind of like a Haitian bonding experience," said Gisland Montour, a sophomore at Boston University.
Many of those on the dance floor said they were looking forward to dancing some "kompa," a native dance and music style of Haiti.
Williana Desravines, a sophomore math and psychology major, said she enjoyed Carimi because Haitian music and dancing is different from popular American styles.
"[Haitians] dance different. Our rhythms are different," she said. "The songs are much longer. We dance very close."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Prof. Yves A. Isidor
posted 3/31/08 @ 5:26 PM EST
Interesting!
Sonia
posted 5/18/08 @ 3:15 AM EST
Carimi is the best band ever!!!! Love You Carimi!!!
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