A Night of Caribbean Brilliance: Island SPACE Celebrates Five Years at the FIYAH! Gala
Island SPACE Co-Founders David Muir and Calibe Thompson with ICON Awardees Braulio N. Rosa, Gepsie M. Metellus, Lesly Simon, Hazelle P. Rogers and Keynote Speaker Marlon Hill. Photo by RJ Deed (Content Factory)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Nearly 300 guests gathered at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, for Milestones: FIYAH! Fashion. Folklore. Future. — the fifth anniversary gala of Island SPACE Caribbean Museum. The electrifying evening honored five years of storytelling, cultural preservation, and diasporic pride, blending theatrical spectacle with the elegance of a formal gala.
The celebration was made possible by sponsors and supporters including Island TV, Broward County Cultural Division, Accordia Shipping, Our Fund, Clover, Broward Bar Association, Crichton Mullings, Visit Barbados, AARLC, Ocean 1, Comfort Care Nursing Professionals, Jamaica Tourist Board, City of Plantation Councilmember Louis Reinstein, Esq., and Adi Reinstein, Esq., Dr. Solanges Vivens, Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and Working Together, P.C.
A Mission That Burns Bright
While the night was marked by glamour and high fashion, the FIYAH! Gala carried a clear purpose — to ignite support for the future of the world’s only pan-Caribbean heritage museum.
Executive Director Calibe Thompson opened the evening with a powerful reflection on Island SPACE’s journey — from a humble pop-up museum to a recognized institution crossing the threshold of five years as a permanent cultural hub. She reminded guests that the museum stands alone in the world as a space dedicated to the shared heritage of the English-, Spanish-, French-, and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.
The night marked the launch of the museum’s $1 million capital campaign, aimed at strengthening operations and establishing a larger, long-term cultural complex. A moving video chronicled the museum’s history and envisioned future, earning rounds of applause before the donation drive, led by President and Co-Founder David I. Muir, raised more than $20,000.
Throughout the night, passionate calls for support from hosts Papa Keith and Muir — along with honoree Commissioner Hazelle P. Rogers — inspired guests to give generously, contributing funds to sustain exhibitions, educational programming, and the dream of a permanent home.
Keynote speaker Marlon A. Hill, Esq. delivered an impassioned address that acknowledged the devastation in Jamaica and Haiti following Hurricane Melissa, connecting that moment to the museum’s broader mission of Caribbean self-determination. His rousing refrain, “When I say FIYAH, you say More FIYAH!” became the evening’s rallying cry, echoing through the ballroom as a call to unity and purpose.
The night closed with a heartfelt appeal from the museum’s emerging board leaders — Cleopatra Bauduy, Juli-Anne Lee, and Christina Brown — who encouraged attendees to contribute their time, talent, and treasure to help shape the museum’s next chapter.
A Night of Caribbean Fire and Fantasy
The gala transported attendees into a mythic Caribbean dreamscape. The evening began with a dazzling red carpet experience, where guests arrived in couture inspired by folklore icons like Anansi, La Sirène, and the Soucouyant. During the oceanfront cocktail hour, Melo Groove Steel Orchestra played as guests mingled with costumed mimes and stiltwalkers, enjoyed island-inspired appetizers and rum punch, posed at a 360° photo booth, and browsed the silent auction.
Inside, hosts Neki Mohan and Keith “Papa Keith” Walcott kept the energy high as Delou Africa Dance Ensemble delivered a riveting fusion of drumming and dance, accompanied by a fashion showcase from Tanya Marie the Designer, whose avant-garde looks brought Caribbean mythology to life.
Vocalist LaVie set the tone for dinner with soulful renditions in English, Creole, Portuguese, and Patois, while poets Inez Barlatier, Mori Taiye, and Frank!e Red Wordz stunned the audience with their trilingual spoken word collaboration, Clash of Cultures. To end the night, DJ GQ took over, filling the dance floor with a high-energy mix of island classics.
Honoring Icons, Inspiring the Next Generation
Four distinguished trailblazers were recognized with the inaugural Island SPACE ICON Awards: Broward County Commissioner Hazelle P. Rogers, Broward Bar Association Executive Director Braulio N. Rosa, Sant La Founder and Executive Director Gepsie M. Metellus, and Community Engagement Director for South Dade Kia of Miami Lesly Simon. Each honoree was celebrated through a touching tribute video featuring remarks from family, colleagues, and friends before delivering emotional acceptance speeches that drew the audience to its feet.
Looking Ahead
Milestones: FIYAH! was more than just a banquet — it was a declaration of Caribbean excellence and unity. Guests left inspired, proud, and ready to carry the museum’s message forward: that our culture, our stories, and our future deserve to shine.
View the gala magazine at islandspacefl.org/fiyahmag.
View photos from the event:
