SYRACUSE, N.Y.- On Mar. 26, Goldstein auditorium was lit with colorful strobe lights, shining on the various flags that represent countries of the Caribbean. The event began with an eruption of cheers from the audience, excited for what SU’s Caribbean Student Association (CSA) had prepared for this year’s CaribFest.
Over 30 years ago, CSA was created with the hopes of creating a space where students can celebrate their Caribbean culture and share that culture with others. This drove CSA’s event coordinator Christin-Delaine Tetteh to join her freshman year.
“I joined CSA as a general member because I wanted to be more connected to my Caribbean culture, it was a home away from home,” Tetteh said. Tetteh later joined the executive board in her junior year. “I decided to join the e-board because I wanted to offer that to underclassmen as well.”
Now in her senior year, CSA has continued its mission with events like the 32-year-long SU tradition of CaribFest. The event has been through many changes, from COVID-related cancellations to combining a concert and pageant, but the goals stay the same.
Hundreds of SU and non-SU students attended this year’s event-themed “Race to Di Top” to experience Caribbean culture. In recent years the organization has opened to the public in hopes of being more inclusive of the Syracuse community. This inclusion was important to the CSA executive board.
“It was more than important that we share everyone’s favorite international artist; why would we keep that to ourselves,” CSA president Jasper Wade said. “We want to make sure that we are out reaching people in Syracuse and even past Syracuse.”
The approximately three-hour event kept the audience engaged with audience participation, dance battles, and Caribbean trivia. The event, filled with many moving parts, was a mix of a pageant and a concert.
The pageant included five SU students representing various Caribbean countries; Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and St. Kitts. The contestants were judged through four rounds:
- Introduction: where they introduced themselves and why they should be Mr or Ms. CaribFest
- Talent: where they showcased their best skills
- Carni-wear: where they wore colorful Carnival costumes
- Elegant wear: where they were able to answer questions about societal issues to the audience and the judges.
The three judges evaluated the contestants on their attire, stage presence, question responses, energy, creativity, uniqueness, mastery of talent, and audience impact. These were all things last year’s Mr. CaribFest Fabryce Fetus kept in mind when judging contestants.
“I want to see who can be able to move the crowd, how they interact with the crowd,” Fetus said. “The way that they answer the questions is really important … being able to answer something that matters to Caribbean society.”
After deliberation, the judges chose sophomore Edwich Etienne and freshman Amaya Saintal, who both represented Haiti.
The pageant was accompanied by various performances from student dance troupes, One World, and Kalabash. The event concluded with the audience rushing to the stage to watch the performance of Caribbean artist Gyptian.
As a senior, Wade wants this event to continue and grow for years to come, bringing new audiences.
“I hope they’re excited to come next year and to watch it, spread it with their friends, invite their family even… I really want people to be eager to showcase their country and their culture,” Wade said. “The Caribbean is made up of 26 countries, lively, colorful, amazing, brilliant, substantial people, and we really need to highlight that.”
