Information/Write-up
With “Rapadou Kreyol”, Wesli places traditional Haitian music at the heart of our daily lives.
This homage is rooted in the Haitian rituals of Lakou Dahomé and Lakou Congo. It celebrates the courage and tenacity of Haitian culture, propagating contemporary messages, in traditional forms with modern accents supported by a powerful groove and ingeniously fresh arrangements.
Wesli's Haitian roots have always remained very present in his compositions, but the musical traditions of his native island have exerted a growing influence on his work in recent years.
Sung completely in the Creole of the Yoruba descendants, this 5th opus by Wesli, “Rapadou Kreyol” (released in June 2018 on WUP Records/Distribution Select) a title which refers to “this sugar cane, deliciously fermented, which we add sometimes in the café in Haiti” – seems to bring new life to rhythms such as Petro, Congo, Rada, Nago, Rara… and instruments such as rara, violin, accordion, percussion, banjo… “which once constituted the heart of Haitian music, but which had to give way in the face of the commercial challenges of globalization. “While remaining a witness to our times of great change, I decided to make this album a platform and a tribute to our roots, to remind us who we are, where we come from, and what unites us. »
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