Mizik Ayiti! Residency | Rasin Okan | June 11, 2026

Rasin Okan will share popular folk songs from legends such as Lenord Fortune (a.k.a. Azor) and Jacques Fortere (a.k.a. Wawa), as well as original songs that echo the courage of Haiti’s freedom fighters while calling us to remember, reconnect, and rise. This residency is a sacred pilgrimage home—a journey for healing, reflection, and protection. We invite you to take this symbolic trip with us through rhythm, drum, dance, and song. Let the music move your spirit. Let the memory ignite your soul.

Performance will take place weekly on Thursdays this Spring:
May 28 and June 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2026
6-9pm (45 min sets at 6:30 & 7:45)

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About Rasin Okan: Born of Haiti's mizik rasin movement, Rasin Okan is a Brooklyn-based Haitian roots ensemble. In the spirit of rasin sèch (directly translated to dry roots), Rasin Okan emphasizes the sounds and songs of traditional Haitian Vodou ceremonial music without much electric accompaniment. Led and co-founded by Jean E. Montina, Sanba Mayombe, the group writes original songs and evocative folk music to insight the revolutionary spirit of Haiti's freedom fighters, set to a pulsating rhythm.

Members: Jean E Montina (Sanba Mayombe), Trudy Pierre (Sanba Verite), Wilgainson Toussaint (Sanba Nènèl), Gregory Fanor (Atis Alèz), Véronëque Ignace (Awoyo)

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Suggested donation includes a complimentary beverage.
Special pop-up offerings from Bon Pâtés.
Limited capacity, RSVP strongly recommended.

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HCX | Mizik Ayiti! Residency

HCX positions this invitational residency as an opportunity to innovate and workshop concepts and works-in-progress, showcase new work, and build networks for artists’ future presentation (e.g. booking, touring) at other cultural institutions and stages.

Rarely do artists receive a consistent opportunity to create and share in “real time”–to develop their ideas in a beta form, experiment, and refine amidst presenting publicly. Over the course of 6 weeks, resident artists receive a platform to fine tune approaches, activate jam sessions, and explore sonic possibilities while developing relationships with their audiences.

On Thursday evenings, artist-composers host unique sets joined by a rotation of guest artists and ensembles. Performances offer the opportunity to showcase new work and workshop arrangements across the musical landscape, from traditional genres reverberating the strength of the tanbou to the contemporary sound like fusion jazz and electronic music carrying Haitian vibration into the future.

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Host or Publisher Haiti Cultural Exchange