U.S.-based PBS will showcas the 2011 documentary, When the Drum Is Beating, which tells the story of Haiti's quintessential big band orchestra, the Orchestre Septentrional – affectionately nicknamed "Septen."

Directed by Whitney Dow, the documentary entwines the band's story with Haiti's history, from colonization, to the Haitian Revolution, to the devastating 2010 earthquake. The documentary also shows how the socially-conscious band deftly survived 6 decades of dictatorships and political upheaval.

"I wanted to give this broader context and present the band as a stand-in for the incredible spirit of the Haitian people," said Dow about the documentary's inspiration. "They were the first band to sing about black Haitians in everyday life."

Septen was founded on July 27, 1948 in Cap-Haïtien. The groups was led for 51 years by saxophonist Ulrich Pierre-Louis, who defined Septen's strict musical discipline and focus on local themes. The Septen signature sound, fondly called "boule de feu" ("ball of fire"), captures a unique blend of Caribbean music, from Haitian kompa to reggae, bolero and calypso.

Septen is currently on their North American tour and will come to West Palm Beach on April 27 at Elayne's Banquet Hall and to Miami Gardens on April 28 at the Ramada Hotel.

PBS features the documentary of the legendary band as part of its Independent Lens series. It premieres on Thursday, April 12.

Rumors circulating about the future stability of Haiti's leadership have unsettled daily life in the capital of Port-au-Prince, according to recent reports from residents to the National Weekly.

One Port-au-Prince business woman, who requested to remain anonymous, said the rumors surrounding the country's "leadership gap" are creating an atmosphere where "anything serious could break out at any time."

The rumors include government corruption allegations, a pending resignation of President Michel Martelly, the parliament's delay in accepting Foreign Minister Laurent Lamothe's appointment as the new prime minister, and the pending arrest of former Prime Minister Bertrand Aristide over his alleged involvement in a telecommunication bribery case heard recently in Miami.

Mobile telecommunications company, Digicel Group, has widened its grasp on the Haitian market with the recent purchase of main competitor, Voilá Comcel.

With 3.5 million customers and 900 employees, Digicel already is the country's largest mobile phone operator and private sector employer. The acquiring of Voilá will extend Digicel's customer reach by nearly one million.

According to a statement released by Digicel, the two companies will continue to operate separately, but with Bryan Gonzales, corporate affairs and human resources director for Digicel Haiti, taking the lead at Voilà. Other details about the future ramifications for Voilá however have not been released yet, including the fate of Voilá's 600 employees – although Digicel Group spokeswoman Antonia Graham promises "business as usual for both companies."

"As proud Haitian companies, Digicel and Voila share one very important thing in common; we are both deeply committed to ensuring our respective customers benefit from the best mobile experience," pledged Digicel Group CEO Colm Delves.

As news of cholera outbreaks and political instability from Haiti flood media outlets, sometimes the daily beauty of life in Haiti can get lost.

This is where Noulive.com steps in, a new video sharing website dedicated to promoting Haitian culture by showcasing its music, art and film. Haitian artists throughout the Diaspora can promote the creative side of Haiti by uploading and sharing their video content. Users can catch the latest Haitian music videos, or explore the island with travel features.

"Really, NouLive.com is an entertainment portal that allows users access to great Haitian music, Haitian movies, Haitian news, politics, Haitian culture and tourism," stated a website spokesperson.

Ideal for both user and content creator, the website provides a platform to display HD videos through a fast, sleek, and friendly interface. Users can also access content from the website on their mobile phone through a free Android app.

The website, which already claims to have over 130 thousand unique visitors, also enjoys their own creative sense of humor. Be sure to hit up videos of the website mascot, Professor Hans Van Puppet.