Boukan Ginen means “Fire from Africa” in Haitian Creole, and this passionate young roots band from Haiti burns with the spirit of their African musical homeland. Founded in the early 1990s, the band is at the forefront of the mizik rasin (roots music) movement that has captivated Haiti both musically and politically.
Led by the passionate, soulful voice of Eddy François, Boukan Ginen plays an earthshaking mix of African, Caribbean, rock and reggae music with vibrant rara rhythms, choral chants and Jimmy Jean-Félix’s searing guitar solos.
Boukan Ginen began in the heat of Haiti’s political turmoil of the late 1980s. The departure of the Duvaliers’ long dictatorship from Haiti started a cultural revolution which swept across the country, giving way to an explosion of new and talented young musicians. The rasin movement was a potent mix of socially-conscious lyrics and rock and reggae influences with voodoo, the African religious music that had long been rejected by the ruling class. Leading the way was the renowned group Boukman Eksperyans, with whom Eddy and Jimmy first got their start.
In 1990 Eddy and Jimmy left Boukman to launch their own new band, Boukan Ginen, just as Haiti’s popular new President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, came to power. Boukan Ginen’s anthemic songs and polyrythmic grooves captured the spirit of the times, and at the 1991 joyful Carnival celebration, the young band won the coveted musical award for Best Carnival Song with “Pale Pale W” (“Speak Out”).
“The music we play is part of an African cultural movement, not just a musical movement,” said Eddy François. “We sing about everyday problems in Haiti – political, social and economic.”
The following year, Haiti was back in turmoil as Aristide was ousted by a military coup. Boukan Ginen’s protest anthem from the previous year, “Pale Pale W,” had them banned from the 1992 Carnival. The powerful, nine-minute chant appears on Boukan Ginen’s first album, Jou A Rive (“The Day Will Come”), recorded and released in Haiti during the repressive months following Aristide’s departure. With the album’s politically-charged songs attacking the country’s social and political malaise, Boukan Ginen became one of Haiti’s most popular and controversial groups.
Jou A Rive was given an international release in 1995 by Xenophile Records, bringing Boukan Ginen worldwide attention and critical acclaim. The band began to tour in the U.S., Canada and Europe, with appearances at festivals around the world. In July 1995, Boukan Ginen performed at Haiti’s Bouyan Rasin Festival, organized by Jonathan Demme.
In 1996, Boukan Ginen dug even deeper into their African roots on their second release, Rév An Nou (“Our Dream”) on Xenophile. The album’s bubbling rhythms and layered horns underscored lyrics portraying abuse of power and hopes of justice and social reform.
“Musicians themselves can’t make the change,” said Jimmy Jean-Félix about the album, “but what we say can enlighten people about the situations they are facing. For me, music is the best way to help people understand that their living conditions can be improved. When Haitian people dance to our music, they hear that a change is possible.”
Discography:
Jou a Rive (Xenophile, 1995)
Rèv an Nou (Xenophile, 1996)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
