Naomie Labaty: Nan Yon Ti Kay Pay

New uploaded video in Naomie Labaty's youtube channel

Poem: Yon ti Kannot

This is probably my favorite poem of Naomie Labaty. Enjoy!

Naomie Labaty on Her Cultural Shows and Her Writing

Photo provided by Naomie Labaty

In 2009, Naomie Labaty and her friend, Angeline Bell, founded Boukan Night, a show where established and upcoming writers could share their work. Yet, what started as a small poetic venue turned into a hot spot for Wednesday nights, not only among Haitians but  among other people with a love for good music and sublime poetry.
"It evolved into a big thing to preserve [the Haitian] culture in Miami especially with non-Haitians and [Haitian-Americans]," Labaty further explained.
Many eminent artists, including Beethova Obas, Joel Widmael, Mikaben and King Kino, came to perform at Boukan Night. They all had something positive to say about this weekly event. Steve Brunache, who was already a fan of Labaty's work, was more than happy to perform at Boukan Night.
"It was a very good show," remembered Labaty. "People asked for more."
Labaty talked about the impact Brunache had on Haitians and the patriotic feeling he brought to the crowd.
Moreover, Stevy Mahy from Guadeloupe also performed at Boukan Night on June 14, 2012.
Labaty and Bell also collaborated with Ayiti Deploge for one of the most attended Boukan Night.
"There was no place to move," said Labaty. She also added that Boukan Night is always well-attended.
"We are [startled] every time by the crowd," She expressed.
Aside from the quality of the show, the small entrance fee also keeps people coming.
"Most of the time, it's only $10," Labaty asserted. They wanted to make it affordable for college and high school students, their targeted audience.
Labaty's television show on Island TV, Plezi Soley, is among the most watched show in South Florida.
"The show makes you feel connected to people," she explained as she becomes a popular figure in South Florida.
The show was previously named Island Entertainment, but she boldly changed it to Plezi Soley to better embrace her Caribbean and her Haitian roots.
Yesterday (Tuesday November 13), Labaty debuted her new radio show on WSRF 1580AM, a Haitian-American radio station.
"It's what I always wanted to do," said Labaty. It will be a 2-hour long show with a discussion component for the first hour and a music session for the second hour.
When it comes to her writing, the CD compilation of her best work is still in production.
"As time passes, I write new poems that I want to include, and quality takes time," she explained.
One of her newest poem is posted on her blog, Anthology of a Heartbreak.
"I think I was going through something when I wrote this poem," she disclosed. "[But] when I write, I try to be less personal. I create illusions, tragedies and transform them into work."
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P.S. Boukan Night's latest event featuring Boukman Eksperyans is tonight at 8 p.m. Click here to be directed to the official facebook page.

Naomie Labaty

Born in Haiti after the ousting of Jean-Claude Duvalier, Naomie Labaty describes herself as a person with a creatively incoherent mind; therefore, she decided to write poems.

"I always have tragic thoughts in my mind,"said Labaty, who writes about Haiti, love (especially love that is unfulfilled) and other entities that she is deeply drawn into. 

She partly grew up in Haiti where she completed her primary education at Saint Francois D'Assise and spent two additional years at Centre D'Etude Secondaire.  At age 13, Labaty moved to the United States and finished high school there.
Labaty spent three years at a university in Boston, but  couldn't decide what career path to take. It wasn't until the massive earthquake in Haiti (12/01/10) that she realized that her actual goal in life was to be helpful to her country. Thus, she moved to Florida to feel closer to Haiti and to study political science and international relations at Florida International University.
Labaty also became involved in many cultural activities promoting the Haitian society. She even had the chance to perform in a spectacle called Ayiti Manman Libete, which focused on dance, music and poetry to support the culture of Haiti.
Along with a friend, she founded Boukan, a cultural night, at Moca Cafe in Florida.
In addition, she enjoys reading and reciting her poems, and to share those poetic thoughts with others, she videotapes them and uploads them on youtube. Above is one sample of her videos recounting the animated life of the haitian youth in a first person scenario. She had received great feedback for it and explained that many thought that she was telling her story.
"When something speaks to them, they give so much back," said Labaty.
Labaty, who describes speech as her forte, also host a show on Island T.V., called Plezi Soley, at 8 p.m on Fridays. 

She has a blog, Anthology of a Heartbreak, where she shares writings and videos pertaining to the subject of love. Please take a look at it at http://naomiel.blogspot.com/. I find her poems conversational and undisguised with just enough literary devices. 

Do not forget to follow her if you enjoy her poems. ☺
Labaty is currently working on a CD version of her most praised poems and short essays. 

Here are additional links to her facebook page and youtube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/user/naomiel1

https://www.facebook.com/naomielayiti?sk=wall