Fest captures Caribbean pulse

The soul of the Caribbean was alive and dancing last night in Philadelphia. The Caribbean-American Students' Association presented "An Evening of Culture" in the High Rise South rooftop lounge. About 75 people turned out to experience the music, poetry and dance of the islands. The evening began with a lecture by Trinidad native Von Martin, a radio producer in Washington, D.C. Martin gave a brief history of island music, from the birth of Calypso to the Caribbean's influence on modern music forms, like hip-hop. The lesson was followed by the real thing, as CASA members read the work of Caribbean poets, performed traditional and contemporary dances and sang island songs like "The Banana Boat Song" and Bob Marley's "One Love." CASA Cultural Comittee Chairperson and Engineering sophomore Jennifer Bailey said she was pleased with the turnout and added, "I hope that's a reflection that more people are going to get involved." The event wrapped up CASA's second annual Carifest, which began Sunday night with an international dinner. Other activities included "Bobfest," a celebration of Bob Marley's life and music, and a talk on the Caribbean's economic future by Ambassador Christopher Thomas, assistant secretary general of the Organization of American States. "An Evening of Culture" was a celebration of the struggles and joys of life in the islands, but it also had some universal messages. The dance that capped off the evening was marked by themes of individuality, jealously and sex and the music reached everyone.