CROWN HEIGHTS — The sights, sounds and stories of Haiti are coming to a street near you.
Next weekend, a group of musicians and artists from the Caribbean nation will perform in a one-time “storytelling procession” in Crown Heights, sharing a longtime Haitian tradition with the surrounding neighborhood, organizers said.
The public parade, set for Nov. 1, will emulate the traditional “rara” musical performances that take place on many Sundays in Haiti, said Regine Roumain, co-founder of the Crown Heights-based Haiti Cultural Exchange. During Lent or carnival days, especially, it’s typical to see groups of people playing metal horns, bamboo trumpets and drums in the street while storytellers perform songs and folktales, she said.
“The songs tend to be kind of revolutionary,” she said. “A lot of time they are political in nature, raising awareness about social issues.”
That tradition is reflected in the theme of the upcoming event — “revolution” — which in turn is a nod to the upcoming 30th anniversary of the fall of the Duvalier regime in Haiti, Roumain said.
Anyone can join the procession and participants are invited to join in the call-and-responses typical of the performance or simply listen to the stories and music.
The event will begin at 2 p.m. at FiveMyles gallery in Crown Heights, proceed to the Brooklyn Public Library on Grand Army Plaza and then head north to the Berg’n beer hall where the artists involved — including the lead artist, Allenby Augustin, who runs an organization in Haiti that works to preserve traditional arts in that country — will discuss their work.
Roumain envisions the event as a way for new residents in Crown Heights to learn about the Caribbean culture of people who have lived in the area for a long time, two groups she feels have “a lot of division” between them.
“What we’re really hoping to do is showcase Haitian culture to this newer community that is coming [to Crown Heights] and foster more community togetherness,” she said.
Bann Konte: A Rara Storytelling Procession will begin at 558 St. Johns Pl. at 2 p.m. on Nov. 1. The event is free and open to the public with a suggested $10 donation.
