Caribbean Music, Art, Readings & Food
Each semester international students and scholars come to Kent State University and adapt to the surrounding culture, climate and language. To help celebrate their presence in the College of EHHS, an annual welcome reception will be hosted on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008 from 3:30-5 p.m., in the Read Room, 200 White Hall.
This year will feature the music, art, voice and food from the Caribbean, including the melodies of Ronald Reid, a bassist and steel drummer who is an Associate Professor of Contemporary Writing and Production at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He began his professional career in 1978 as a bassist for the late Lord Kitchener's calypso Revue in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
As the melodies capture your attention, you will be greeted at the door with one of Regina Reid's oil paintings. Regina was born in Kingston, Jamaica and came to the United States when she was eleven years old. She graduated from Firestone High School in Akron and from KSU with a bachelor's degree in Fine and Professional Arts in December 2006.
Nathalie Taghaaboni (or Queen Maccoomeh) will share with the group her hilarious and satirical compilation of short stories titled, Tales from Icebox Land (pictured above). She will share the perspective of a Caribbean-born person, discussing politics, child rearing, schooling, carnivals, 'back home' and her newly adopted home - the Icebox of North America.
Please join us for a traditional Caribbean afternoon and help us celebrate the presence of these visiting artists, as well as the EHHS international students and scholars. Our appreciation is extended to Dr. Joanne Kilgour-Dowdy who has brought her Caribbean friends to share with all of us.
