Lori Martineau and Linda Reno, co-founders of the New Orleans based Haitianola, are featured in the documentary, Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music Of New Orleans. Their organization’s mission is to amplify the connections between New Orleans and Haiti by facilitating artistic and cultural exchanges and by offering educational programming. In this interview, produced by Kanaval documentary assistant producer Eve Abrams, Martineau and Reno talk about the connections between New Orleans and Haiti, explored in more depth in the documentary, hosted by Leyla McCalla.
This interview is part of a series – Exploring The Deep Ties Between New Orleans and Haiti – Abrams produced for WWNO in New Orleans, in collaboration with the Kanaval project producers at WXPN in Philadelphia. This series was produced by Eve Abrams as part of WXPN’S Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the music of New Orleans, which has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Below, listen to the inspiring backstory of Haitianola with co-founders Lori Martineau and Linda Reno.