In celebration of Black History Month, KSUT will broadcast Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans, hosted by Haitian-American and New Orleans artist and musician, Leyla McCalla, a founding member of Our Native Daughters & the Grammy award-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops. The 3-part audio docu-series, produced by WXPN of Philadelphia, chronicles the history of Haiti and Haitian influences on the music, culture, and community of New Orleans.
KSUT will broadcast this special series on the first three Sundays of February at 2 PM.
Because of the island’s Caribbean location, its history as a Spanish and French colony, and past trade enabled by West African slaves, Haiti’s music is richly diverse in styles, incorporating native Taíno, African, French, and Spanish influences. These cultural traditions made their way to New Orleans when more than 10,000 free and enslaved Haitians immigrated to the city after the slave uprising at the turn of the 19th century. Kanaval tells both the story of Haiti’s rich history and its influence on the music of New Orleans.
Kanaval celebrates the origins, history, and persistent influence of Haitian culture and features interviews and music from Boukman Eksperyans, Paul Beaubrun, RAM, Lakou Mizik, Chico Boyer, Win Butler & Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire, Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, Ben Jaffee of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and others.
KSUT will broadcast this special series on the first three Sundays of February at 2 PM (pre-empting Global Village).
