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May is Haitian Heritage Month, and Miami Book Fair has partnered with Sosyete Koukouy to present the Little Haiti Book Festival. Miami is home to the largest population of Haitians and Haitian Americans outside of Haiti. A wide variety of cultural, literary and children’s activities are planned for the one-and-a-half-day festival. Roundtable discussions and author presentations in Creole will be simultaneously translated into English. We hope you’ll join us in Little Haiti!
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May 27, 6 - 10 p.m. & May 28, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Little Haiti Cultural Center, 212 N.E. 59th Terrace, Miami
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Little Haiti Book Festival is made possible in part by the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Green Family Foundation and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.
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Author-led Discussions |
Roundtable panel discussions will explore many issues of interest and concern to the Haitian community. Simultaneous translation into English is being provided for these discussions.
Saturday, May 27, 8 p.m.
“Haitian Literature: Resilience & Sustenance” / “Liv Ayisyen: Pote Kole pou Ayiti pi Djanm”
Professor Jean-Claude Exulien will explain how books expand the mind and allow us to create new paths for ourselves, and why using our imaginations, and providing for others to use theirs, is an obligation for all.
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Saturday, May 28, 12 p.m.
“Haiti's Creole Literature”
Authors Pierre-Michel Chéry and Anivince Jean-Baptiste will examine modern Haitian Creole literature, and explore why Haitian Creole is the language of choice for many writers who engage the personal negotiations of culture, history, social reform, identity, and art.
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Saturday, May 28, 2 p.m.
“Haiti: Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery” / “Esklavaj Modèn nan peyi d Ayiti”
From underpaid house labor and fieldwork, to child slavery (“restavèk”), to sexual trafficking, authors Fritz Jean and Pierre-Michel Saint-Clair will discuss the economic and emotional aspects of modern slavery in Haiti, share personal stories, and name the price of freeing Haiti’s modern slaves.
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Saturday, May 28, 4 p.m.
“Race & Identity: The Diaspora Divide” / “Ras & Idantite: Divizyon nan Dyaspora a”
This panel will offer insight on the strained relationship between Caribbean Americans and African Americans in South Florida. Maude Heurtelou and Hervé Fanini-Lemoine will discuss the urgency of solidarity, so that the space between “us” and “them” might finally collapse.
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Children’s Activities |
Sunday, May 28, all day
Kids Art-Making Studio / Atelye Atizana pou Timoun
Connect literature to art with storybook readings and hands-on activities. At 4 pm, Edwidge Danticat will read from her book, Mama’s Nightingale. In partnership with MOAD.
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Sunday, May 28, all day
Children’s Entertainment in the Courtyard – All Day!
Haitian folktales with Lucrece Louisdhon Louinis and Yanoui. Belly dancing with Cassandra Guerrier.
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Sunday, May 28, 12 p.m.
Kids Writing for Kids + Bookbinding / Rankontre Jèn Ekriven Nou yo
Are you raising a kid author? Bring your child to meet published writers Edwin Bonilla, 7, Delphine N. Dauphin, 7, Kimbriah Alfrenar, 13, and Phanesia Pharel, 17. After a craft talk with the authors, children will participate in a short workshop with writer and artist Carol Todaro to learn to make books.
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Writing and Publishing Workshops |
Sunday, May 28, 2 p.m.
First Draft: Ébauches & Banbòch – A creative writing workshop
Fabienne Josaphat will teach effective writing techniques to allow writers to give voice to stories about their Caribbean-American experience. In English, French, and Creole.
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Sunday, May 28, 4 p.m.
Self-Publishing Strategies for Authors / Estrateji pou Otè ki vle Pibliye poukont yo
Thinking about self-publishing your book? Bito David has the answer to all of your questions! Get the inside scoop on publishing strategies and get to understand the “state of play” in self-publishing today.
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Cultural Activities |
Saturday, May 27, 6 p.m.
Creative Cocktail Hour at the Caribbean Marketplace/ Little Haiti Marketplace
Meet members of Miami’s Sosyete Koukouy and Little Haiti Book Festival’s keynote speaker, historian Jean-Claude Exulien, founder of the National Theater of Haiti and director of COIN (Center for Orientation and Information).
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Sunday, May 28, 2 p.m.
“On the Verge of a Fever” – A film screening presented by Ayiti Images
Against the backdrop of poverty, fear and a brutal dictatorship in 1971, On the Verge of a Fever is about Fanfan, a fifteen-year-old boy just wants to experience life for himself with his streetwise friend Gégé. Based on the novel, Le goût des jeunes filles by renown Haitian novelist Dany Laferrière. (subtitled)
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Sunday, May 28, 4 p.m.
“Folk Dance” / “Dans Fòlklorik”
This workshop will teach dances full of opposites, subtle and dynamic, graceful and ragged, the vibrant tones and rhythms of the drums creating calm, balance, sensuality, and passion.
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Sunday, May 28, 6 p.m.
Vodou Immersion / Atelye sou Vodou
Vodou is too often dismissed as a primitive practice with strange connotations. If you’re curious about Vodou and its real meaning, you’re invited to fully immerse during a live, heartfelt ceremony.
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These are just a sampling of events planned over the course of the two-day festival. There will also be vendors and booksellers, and many other activities. For more information please visit our website at
miamibookfair.com
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VOLUNTEER! Join us in celebrating Haiti's literature and its writers.
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