ARTIST/BAND /GROUP INFORMATION
| Artist/Band/Group Birthday : | 09/11/1987(Age 37) |
| Born In/Current Location : | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| Occupation(s) : | Group/Band |
| Genres : | Rasin |
| Solo/Band/Group : | Universal Island Records, Mango Records |
Boukman Eksperyans ushered in a musical revolution during the late-’80s with their Grammy-nominated debut album, Voudou Adjae. This brilliant release introduced the world to Boukman’s signature worldly high energy sound that fuses traditional Haitian and Caribbean rhythms with rock and reggae, all the while spreading their spiritual message. Voudou Adjae brought the band international prominence and made them spokespeople for the common Haitian.
Boukman Eksperyans became Haiti’s leading advocates for social reform in 1990 when they released the song “Ke-m Pa Sote,” which dealt with the horrendous living conditions in Haiti as a product of the oppressive government. The message resonated with other Haitians and was rapidly incorporated into the repertoires of other Haitian bands. Their 1992 album, Kalfou Danjere/Dangerous Crossroads, was met with death threats, phone taps, and a radio ban by the military authorities due to its violent nature.
Since their emergence on the scene, Boukman has continued to wake-up the masses by releasing countless critically acclaimed albums, including Libete (Pran Pou’l!)/Freedom (Let’s Take It!) (1995, recorded at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong studio), Revolution (1998, recorded at fellow Haitian Wyclef Jean’s studio), and Live at Red Rocks (1999, recorded live at the famed Red Rocks amphitheater in Colorado). They have also performed worldwide everywhere from Haiti (where they draw tens of thousands of fans per show) to the Caribbean, throughout North America, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Africa both as a headlining act and alongside The Fugees, Oumou Sangare, Femi Kuti, and Baba Maal.
Boukman Eksperyans’ musicality and political courage have made them the most popular roots band in Haiti. The band plans to continue its tradition of supporting socially important projects by launching the 2006 Solidarity Tour to support the University of Fondwa 2004 (UNIF), Haiti’s first rural University. The University of Fondwa, seated in the mountains south of Port au Prince, opened in 2004 to train the sons and daughters of peasants from all over the country to become leaders in the sustainable development of their own communities. With the historic victory of Rene Preval in the February 2006 presidential race, Haitians hope to be opening a new era of democracy and progress, in which innovative institutions like the University of Fondwa will play an integral part.
Most importantly, Boukman Eksperyans hopes that the Solidarity Tour 2006 will function to make people unite in song and dance – a concept as relevant as ever given the state of international affairs.
They are working now on their new album produced by Tedyboy “La révolte des zombies”, and they are already on tour to promote it… Stay tuned
Visits: 47
