25259: Hermantin ( News)Cajun crawfish. African artifacts. Haitian books. (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Sun, May. 29, 2005


FORT LAUDERDALE | INTERNATIONAL CREOLE FEST
A BLENDING OF ROOTS

BY NATALIE P. McNEAL
nmcneal@herald.com

Cajun crawfish. African artifacts. Haitian books.

Music, food and works of art from Haiti, Senegal, Guadeloupe and Domnica --
among other countries -- entertained the crowds at Fort Lauderdale's first
International Creole Fest Saturday.

''This is what Creole Fest is about, creating a platform for everyone to
express Creole culture,'' said Eric Boucicaut, founder and executive
director of ACTION Foundation, a cultural arts organization that sponsored
the event. ``All of the African diaspora has Creole culture.''

The outdoor festival, which continues today, features music such as Zouk,
Zydeco and Calypso.

Boucicaut anticipated about 5,000 revelers to visit the festival on
Saturday.

Creole is a language and culture born from the blending of European,
African, Indian, Amerindian and Asian cultures that started during days of
colonization.

Organizers say 400,000 French-Creole-speaking people live in South Florida
-- most of whom have Haitian roots. Throughout the park, various types of
Creole could be heard.

''When you are far away from your country, you need something to remind you
about where you are from,'' said Marie Decatus, 55, who grew up in Haiti but
now lives in Pembroke Pines.``I love seeing the paintings here.''

Peter Mazella, 43, of Fort Lauderdale rode his bike through Esplanade Park
the week before and noticed the Creole Fest signs.

''I wanted to come back to get some curry goat,'' said Mazella, as he
listened to the music in the park. ``It's interesting music. It's kind of
groovy.''