WHEN: Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight
WHERE: Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St., Durham
ADMISSION: Suggested donation is $20, with proceeds going to the American Red Cross.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (919) 683-1709 or www.hayti.org.
By Cliff Bellamy
cbellamy@heraldsun.com; 419-6744
DURHAM -- Durham's Hayti district and Haiti have always had a connection. When Hayti was first settled, some historians say the name was an expression of African-Americans' admiration for Haiti's status as an independent nation. The steeple of historic St. Joseph's Church has a metal weathervane that has a symbol of Erzulie, the goddess of love, a figure important in Haitian culture.
This weekend, Hayti will extend a hand of help and a love offering to earthquake-shattered Haiti. The St. Joseph's Historic Foundation Hayti Heritage Center will present the Durham Artists for Haiti Relief Concert Saturday. The concert begins at 5 p.m. and continues until midnight at Hayti Heritage Center.
V. Dianne Pledger, president and CEO of St. Joseph's Historic Foundation, said she began putting out feelers last week to various artists. "Everybody that I e-mailed said they were on board," she said. Musicians and other artists are still calling, she said Tuesday, and more performers are likely to be added before Saturday's benefit. All performing artists are volunteering their time.
"We have some great artists in our community," Pledger said. The organization felt that the benefit is "a way to use our resources to help the people of Haiti" and an opportunity to "use the arts to make a difference in our world," she said.
About 18 groups and more than 100 artists from Durham and surrounding communities will come together to perform and help raise money at the event.
Among the performers scheduled to appear are guitarist and NCCU music professor Baron Tymas, and saxophonist Marcus Anderson, who won last year's annual competition at the Capital Jazz Festival in Columbia, Md. Jasme Kelly, the Johnny White Band, Ian Silver & True Prayze and other musicians also will perform.
Also on the bill is Hayti Heritage Center's Bull City Slam Team, the team that puts on monthly poetry slams at the center. Spoken word poet Dasan Ahanu, who hosts slam team events, also will perform at this benefit.
Other artists scheduled to appear are Prince Miah & The Girl ToyZ, The Rise Band, The William Darity Group, Jatovie McDuffie, Jennifer Evans Gospel, Brandi Q & PB Band, Darrell Stover, Cinnamon Davis, The William McLaughlin Group, Kurt Melges & Leslie Land.
Suggested donation is $20 at the door and all proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross for Haiti relief.
Those who want to donate but cannot make it to the concert may contribute online to the Red Cross through a link set up on Hayti Heritage Center's Web site, www.hayti.org. The center also is reminding people they can donate $10 to the American Red Cross by texting "HAITI" to "90999 (which will be charged to individual cell phone bills).
