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Boukman EksperyansThe time of "Baby Doc" Duvalier and his Tonton Mancouts marks roughly the early beginnings of the group Boukman Eksperyans, who founders were Lolo Beaubrun and his wife Mimerose. His father was kind of the Bill Cosby of Haiti and while on tour in the United States brought back a James Brown LP which left a lasting impression on Lolo. After his parents divorced he followed his mother to Brooklyn, New York. In the United States he studied two years of Business Administration. Lolo returned to Haiti in 1978 and there were bands known as Minidjaz as part of the first roots music movement, but they seemed to pay no attention to songlyrics that dealt with reality. They were even accused of standing to close to the Duvaliers. With Lolo and Mimrose the strong African element in Haiti's culture experienced a rejuvinating thrust from within. They decided to combine roots music with Vodou. They sought however, to combine metaphysical elements of another vision - the structures in common found in the world religions to be educed and liased with Vodou. A global suncretism. Lolo's grandfather know a lot about the Vodou religion, but his parents never made this available to him. Lolo and Mimrose entered their first Vodou lakou-s, a sort of Hatian style spiritual Kibbuts, where they met musicians and singers and where they got a first real glance at the African culture of Haiti in the form it was handed down from memebers of various tribes. They founded a group to study vodou music, gave it the name of Moun Ife (people of the abode of the deities) and thereafter they appeared as a life act in the 1980's. The traditional roots instruments were replaced by electric instruments, like the bass guitar and two guitars played by members like Eddy Francois and Daniel 'Daby' Beaubrun, Lolo's brother and the band's chief arranger. Following the example of the a.m. 18th century Vodou priest and the'high priest' of rock music Jimi Hendrix the name "Boukman Eksperyans" came into existence. Lolo stated that Bob Marley who made him think. When he heard him in 1976 he thought he could create the something similar in Haiti with Vodou that happened in Jamaica. Since the beginning, starting with the first encouters made by the Beaubruns with deep African roots, Boukman Eksperyans has remained steadfastly linked to Ginen (Guinea) Vodou line. They call it 'Vodou Adjaye' after a likewise named temple dance performed directly after ceremonies. This was also the title of their first LP. They became more famous in 1990 when they presented their song "Ke-m pa sote" at the Carnival. The government acted somewhat upset to this song which rapidly incoporated into the repertoires of all Haitian bands. The song means (My heart doesn't leap, I'm not afraid). This song rebelled against the living conditions induced by the ruling government. After a young girl was shot dead by the military this song became an out and out battle hymn admonishing the government. They continued to have rebellious songs. Their songs were no longer permitted in Haiti after the 1980's, The band members were never directly threatened, but were advised 'never go out at night'.
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