The sound of the Caribbean and smell of jerk chicken lured hundreds from the Northwestern community to CaribFest on Monday afternoon.
CaribNation, an NU student group that promotes Caribbean culture, held its fourth annual event on the northern end of the Lakefill. More than 300 attendees settled down on blankets and chairs for hot Jamaican food, a Haitian band and a laid-back atmosphere.
“We wanted to represent all sides of the Caribbean,” said Nicole Joseph, a Medill sophomore and the president of CaribNation.
Joseph said she hoped the event would draw NU students unfamiliar with the culture.
Sakad, a Haitian band, and DJ Sagittarius, who spun reggae and dance grooves, had the crowd moving early in the afternoon. Musicians from both groups are based in Evanston.
Sagittarius owns a music store on Howard Street and has performed at CaribFest since it began.
“It’s pretty cool, especially because the weather’s on our side,” Sagittarius said.
Devon Brown, a reggae singer from Jamaica, said he heard about the show from a flier and came in from Chicago to check it out.
“It’s always nice to be out here by the lake,” said Brown, who has performed with Ziggy Marley — the eldest son of reggae legend Bob Marley — and does regular shows at Chicago clubs. “It’s a little chilly but the music warms you up.”
Local gingarte capoeira dancers added to the multicultural atmosphere. The small troupe did demonstrations of African-Brazilian martial arts that were developed during the time of African enslavement in Brazil. Their acrobatic movements, including backflips and slow-motion cartwheels, accompanied the beat of traditional drums and tambourines.
Weinberg sophomore Alicia Dean said she loved the atmosphere and couldn’t wait to see her friends in CaribNation dance.
“The music is bumpin’,” Dean said while waiting in line for food. “I’m already starting to dance out here.”
Chicago’s Blue Mountain Restaurant, 1319 W. Wilson Ave., provided the Jamaican cuisine, including curried chicken, rice, plantains and various Jamaican colas.
“The food looks good, especially the plantains,” Dean said. “I probably should have waited for the jerk chicken, but I couldn’t resist.”
Other activities included juggling demonstrations, pinatas, dance contests and limbo games. Vendors from area businesses sold jewelry and lotions to the crowd.
Medill junior Joshua Miller said he came for the live band but was more amused by a little girl with pigtails laughing and bouncing around in front of Sakad’s stage.
“That little girl dancing, she knows how to have a good time,” Miller said. “This was an all-around great effort by CaribNation.”
