Haiti’s Day of the Dead celebrates spirituality and community in Miami

Haitians across South Florida will honor native tradition and spirituality as they celebrate through music and dance the island nation’s annual Fèt Gede — Festival of the Dead — which is Haiti’s version of the Day of the Dead.

“We need to find ways to stay connected to our roots,” said Haiti-born star Tafa Mi-Solei, whose music, including acclaimed songs like “ Lakou ” (land and community) and “ Rasin ” (Roots), captures the community spirit of Fèt Gede.

“This is what we are,” she told WLRN. “ We can be our own lakou anywhere in the world if we can find ways to keep the spirituality alive.”

Mi-Soleil’s "pop-roots" style of music, as she calls it, blends Haitian genres such as rabòday and rasin with popular styles like Afrobeats and gospel. Mi-Soleil said it's her way of making