Perhaps you are familiar with the Mexican holiday known as “Day Of The Day” and its colorful celebrations. Such is a wider phenomenon in many of the Afro-diasporic cultures, including those of Haiti and New Orleans.
The first GedeFest will be running from October 25th through November 3rd in Haiti, and it will be celebrating the shared culture of Haiti and New Orleans with a non-stop party in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel. Legendary group Preservation Hall Jazz Band will be there. So will Haitian groove rockers RAM and plenty of dancers, chefs, filmmakers and photographers.
I spoke with Richard Morse of the aforementioned RAM about GedeFest and more on behalf of A Global Lifestyle.
More on GedeFest can be found online on Facebook via @GedeFest.
GedeFest will be making its debut in late October. For how long have you been planning GedeFest?
Richard Morse: I saw my mom, Emerante de Pradines Morse, do a dance choreography to celebrate the Gede spirits one early November in which she put an offering to the Gede spirits on the stage on a small table. The Gede spirits represent death, healing and procreation. That must have been the late 1980s or early 1990s. I’ve been doing it ever since. This year Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Chef Donald Link are joining our celebration which makes it an International affair bringing the Creole Cultures of Haïti and New Orleans together.
How would you describe GedeFest to someone who hasn’t yet read about it?
Richard Morse: GedeFest is a celebration which will bring the Creole culture of New Orleans and Haiti together. There will be concerts, food, dance master classes, exhibits and a good time for all.
Is the plan to turn GedeFest into an annual event?
Richard Morse: GedeFest is already an annual event, though this is the first year we’ve gone international and baptized it with a name.
Is GedeFest tied in with any of your other projects?
Richard Morse: Everything we do is tied in together from a cultural perspective, whether it’s preserving The Hotel Oloffson or recording and performing Haitian music with RAM. Life is a celebration and we celebrate Haitian culture.
What do you wish more people knew about Haiti?
Richard Morse: Haiti may be the rhythm and song capital of the world. The songs and rhythms put Haitians in touch with the spiritual world. They are a spiritual people.
GedeFest aside, what is coming up for you?
Richard Morse: We make music, we perform, we travel, we take care of The Oloffson. I don’t see any change to that schedule coming up in the near-future. We will probably be releasing more songs and videos in the coming year.
When not busy with work, how do you like to spend your free time?
Richard Morse: I have a wonderful wife and children. I’m a very lucky man… I can’t really say we have free time. We’re always thinking about what we do or what we could be doing. The world inspires us. People and cultures inspire us.
Finally, Richard, any last words for the kids?
Richard Morse: There’s a lot of talented kids out in the world, and sometimes all they’re missing is an opportunity to flower; a little water, a little love or a little sunshine is all it takes.
