She married into political power in 1847 to the Haitian emperor Faustin-Élie Soulouque. Together they reigned for 10 years from 1849-1859. Adélina Souloque and her husband Faustin were heavily involved in the arts they both founded the “Imperial academy of Arts of Drawing and Painting in Port-Au-Prince” between the years 1840-1860. They intended on enforcing Haiti as a nation of luxury, power and wealth. During their 10 year reign they asserted Haiti as a powerful nation globally.

Painting source: L'Univers illustré a French weekly periodical (1821-1900)

Clarke was Trinidadian born and raise dancer she gained fame from Boscoe Holders Caribbean Dancer troupe. Seen here is performing the Haitian dance Yanvalou the Institute of Contemporary Arts. Through the Boscoe Holder’s dance troupes she met him and later married Holder.

Photo: © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

Katherine Dunham created one of the most important Black dance companies in the 30s. Dunham is most notable for her contributions to Afro-Caribbean dance. Her practice as an anthropologist fashioned Dunham as an important scholar in African based religions practiced in the Caribbean. Dance is an essential part of African based religious ceremonies, because of her active field work she became a Haitian priestess. The countries she conducted her field work in was Jamaica, Haiti, Martinique, Trinidad and Cuba.

Photo: Katherine Dunham, Gjon Mili, 1943