The event included a pageant with SU students as contestants and a concert from Caribbean artist Gyptian.
Transcript
Tetteh: I joined CSA as a general member because I wanted to be more connected to my Caribbean culture because it was a home away from home kind of moment. I felt like I was really lacking that in Syracuse, New York. So by join the Caribbean association I can you know meet people who kind of have the same experience as me and you know was looking to kind of build a community the same way I was trying to build a community.
Almeida: So I think it’s really important to have cultural events where the e-board and the constituents like really have a say in who is being brought to campus because they’re really more engaging events and people have a great time so.
Tetteh: The pageant is an annual thing. It has happened for a majority of CSA’s existence, so it was just the continuation of a tradition.
Wade: it was more than important that we share everyone’s favorite international artists why would we keep that to ourselves. Like you know the Caribbean is not just going to get to the campus we want to make sure that we’re out reaching people in Syracuse and even past Syracuse people came up from farther than just New York people came up from Boston just to see this make it happen.
Almeida: It’s always a great time at CaribFest.
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.