Miami, May 20, 2016 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Book Fair (MBF) is partnering with Sosyete Koukouy of Miami Inc., to present the Fourth Annual Haitian-Caribbean Book Fair on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29. This book fair features two days of vibrant cultural exposure to various writers, publishers, performers, and informative events. It is free and open to the public.
The event, which has been presented by Sosyete Koukouy of Miami Inc., for the past three years, continues to count on the support of Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami and Commissioner Keon Hardemon, the Haitian Consulate HALO (cultural section), and the Libreri Mapou Book Store.
On Saturday, May 28, from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., the book fair will be held at the Little Haiti Cultural Center – The Marketplace, 212 NE 59th Terrace. The event will feature presentations from Haitian writer, Father William Smarth, whose book is entitled, “The History of Haitian Catholic Church in Haiti from 1492 to 2013,” and Professor Anthony Georges-Pierre author of fifteen biographies of Haitian presidents. Professor Georges-Pierre will be presenting on the topic “Ups and Downs of the African Continent.” The evening will also feature performances by Kiki Wainwright (singer), Zetwal Kreyòl (Haitian Kreyòl choir) and others.
On Sunday, May 29, from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., participants can browse dozens of vendor booths and discover new books, authors, Caribbean food, and street entertainment at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex and the Mapou Cultural Center, 5919 NE 2nd Ave. Professor and historian Jean-Claude Exulien will present the lecture Quelques reflexions sur l’importance du livre dans notre société.
Family-friendly festivities continue with authors and vendors lined up along NE Second Avenue and NE 59th Terrace in the heart of Little Haiti. Visitors will enjoy traditional Haitian music, food, dance workshops, and a children’s corner including singing, dancing, and storytelling. This year, the fair will host an exhibition of the twelve most culturally significant Haitian writers, visual artists and musicians curated and presented by The Haitian Ministry of Culture.
For more information, visit miambookfair.com or contact 305-237-3258.
MBF Media-only contact: Lisa Palley, lpalley@bellsouth.net, 305-642-3132.
Sosyete Koukouy of Miami
Established in 1985, Sosyete Koukouy of Miami, Inc. (Sos*ye*te Koo*Kouy), is dedicated to preserving Haitian culture in the United States through education and arts and cultural presentations. Its mission is to preserve, perpetuate and present Haitian cultural performances and exhibitions to Creole and non-Creole speaking audiences. In support of that mission, Sosyete Koukouy presents and produces cultural programs that increase awareness of Haitian people, its language, rituals and traditions, and its deep roots in the African continent. It also produces programs that foster greater understanding between Haitian people and people of other diverse ethnicities, cultures and heritage; and foster respect for the arts and artists of Haiti, African and Caribbean by raising awareness of their historical and artistic contributions to the national and international cultural landscape.
Miami Book Fair
Miami Book Fair, widely considered the largest and finest literary event in the U.S., is part of MDCulture, the Cultural Affairs Department of Miami Dade College. In addition to the annual, eight-day festival that takes place on the Wolfson Campus of the College in Downtown Miami, Miami Book Fair presents literary programs throughout Miami all year long. Miami Book Fair is made possible through the generous support of the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Miami Downtown Development; and the Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners.
Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College has a long and rich history of involvement in the cultural arts, providing South Florida with a vast array of artistic and literary offerings, including the Miami Book Fair International, the Center @ MDC, the Miami International Film Festival, MDC Live Arts performing arts series, the Cuban Cinema Series, the Miami Leadership Roundtable speakers’ series, numerous renowned campus art galleries and theaters, and the nationally recognized School of Entertainment and Design Technology. With an enrollment of more than 175,000 students, MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the country and is a national model for many of its programs. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree programs including baccalaureate, associate in arts and science degrees and numerous career training certificates leading to in-demand jobs. MDC has served more than 2,000,000 students and counting since it opened its doors in 1960.