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Sosyete Koukouy -History
Established in 1985,
Sosyete Koukouy, Inc. (Sos*ye*te Koo*Kouy), is dedicated to preserving Haitian culture in the United States through education and
arts and cultural presentations. Its mission is to preserve, perpetuate and present, Haitian cultural performances and
exhibitions, to Creole and non-Creole speaking audiences. In support of that mission, Sosyete Koukouy presents and produces
cultural programs that: increase awareness of Haitian people, its language,
rituals and traditions, and its deep roots in the African continent; foster
greater understanding between Hatian people and people of other diverse
ethnicities, cultures and heritage; and foster respect for the arts and
artists of Haiti and the Americas by raising awareness of their historical and
artistic contributions to the national and international cultural landscape. As performers and presenters of Haitian folkloric and
contemporary dance, music, theatre and literary arts, Sosyete Koukouy, Inc.
produces and presents its projects primarily in South Florida with tours
throughout the United States,
Caribbean, Haiti and Canada,
where high concentrations of Haitian people reside. It is nationally recognized
as an essential resource and repository of Haitian cultural information for
academians, artists, linguists, and others seeking information about Haitian
culture, politics and language. Sosyete
Koukouy advocates and supports the importance, potential and impact of Haitian
culture as a vehicle for social, cultural, economic development and empowerment
of Haitian people for successful assimilation into American culture.
As a
repertory company of 60 Haitian singers, dancers, actors and writers, Sosyete
Koukouy, has spun off six new companies located in Homestead,
Canada, New
York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Haiti. Aside from its presentations
to general audiences, the organization makes a concerted effort to target
Haitian and Haitian-American people who are isolated in their own communities,
by using familiar art forms to support cultural and acculturation services such
as language skill development. The Haitian-Creole language, learned initially
through family and community interaction, has retained its original composition
and is the basic form of communication used to carry on the daily activities of
the Haitian people; therefore, Sosyete Koukouy’s original literary and
theatrical presentations are deeply rooted in the Haitian tradition and are
performed primarily in Creole with audio and visual technology aids to assist
people who are non-Creole speaking.
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