Broward County library hosts immersive celebration honoring Haiti’s independence and cultural legacy on Jan. 30

Broward County, Florida – On Friday night, January 30, the Broward County Main Library will hold a special cultural event to celebrate Haiti’s Independence Day. The event, which will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., is meant to be an immersive arts and cultural experience that shows off both Haiti’s rich history and the fact that there is a large Haitian community in Broward County.

Haiti has a special role in the history of the Americas. It became the second country in the region to become independent after the United States. On January 1, 1804, it declared its freedom from France.

Long before that, the island, which was then called Saint-Domingue, played an important part in the American Revolutionary War by giving money, troops, and strategic support that made British supply lines less effective. The library’s program frames the evening as both a cultural celebration and a reminder of a long-standing historical partnership, as the United States gets closer to its 250th anniversary of independence in 2026.

The main event of the night is a showing of Trezor Lakay, a documentary project led by Yvon André, who is also known as “Kapi,” a founding member of the famous Haitian band Tabou Combo. The goal of the initiative was to make individuals of African descent feel proud and to remind them of their duty to honor their shared identity, creativity, and heritage.

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The documentary was shot in the United States and shows Haiti’s most famous landmarks in stunning detail, such as the Citadelle Laferrière, Bassin Bleu, and Île-à-Vache. The movie also shows Haitian philosophers, artists, and musicians whose work still shapes the country’s cultural voice, together with these landscapes. The initiative also looks back on Tabou Combo’s more than 50 years of work to promote Haitian music and culture to people all around the world, from Europe and Africa to Asia and the Caribbean.

The evening doesn’t focus on Haiti’s problems; instead, it highlights the country’s cultural treasure. Through music, film, and storytelling, the program invites the public to see Haitian culture as a living treasure—one defined by resilience, creativity, and a deep sense of pride.

For more details and program schedule click here.