COMING TO THE FESTIVAL

Ballads
Boulo Valcourt, Port-au-Prince
Valcourt sings solo twoubadou.

Konbit Music
Kod-o-Bann: Yolene Papouloute, Dondon; Anani Augustin, Cap Haitïen; Mercile Destin, Cayes; Marie Enite Joseph, Cayes; Roseline Godar Jean Giles, Petit-Goave
Konbit songs are traditional work songs sung by men and women working the Welds together. This group of market women from various parts of Haiti performs a capella and are accompanied by percussion instruments.

Old-Style konpa and Haiti Jazz Fusion
Reginald Polycard and Friends, Port-au-Prince
Reginald Polycard; Richard Barbeau; Joël Widmaier
This group combines two repertoires important in Haiti's music history, early konpa and jazz, which was learned through Haitian interaction with Americans, but developed its own unique sound and cadences in Haiti.

Rara
San Rankin: Mérigène Valéus; Rigal Mésidor; Frantz Eustache; Viergenie Dorléan; Dieufort Dorléan
This traditional rara group is known for its costuming and the lyrics, which express their community concerns.

Twoubadou Music
Tikoka, Port-au-Prince
Kesner Bolane; Juste Allen; Wilfrid Bolane; Memé Maudira
Chertoute Mathieu; David Metellus (Ti Coka)
Music that originates from a rural Haitian interpretation of European traveling balladeers that includes drum rhythms and musical instruments from African sources.

Vodou Drumming & Haitian Jazz
Azor: Lenor Fortuné; Francois Fortuné; Lemour Fortuné; Augustine Fortuné; Rose-Manie Fortuné; Siméon Jérome; Elius Osius;
Ludner Toussaint; Fonine Faustin
Known throughout the world as one of the most powerful voices in traditional sacred music in Vodou, Azor and his group of traditional drummers travel and record extensively.

Storytelling
Joseph Jean François, Port-au-Prince
François is a traditional raconteur who has told stories for over 50 years.

Jean Claude Martineau
Martineau is both a scholar of the Haitian oral traditon and a storyteller in his own right.

Voudou
Abnor Adely, Gressier
As the Vodou priest (ougan), Adely is the leader of Vodou ceremonies. Before each ceremony, he draws the vèvès (sacred drawings) to symbolize the different lwas (deities) with ground flour, wood ashes, coffee powder, or brick powder.

Faucia Dumorney, Gressier
Faucia Dumorney is a specialist in the different rhythmic dances for Vodou ceremonies. The dances are integral to Vodou ceremonies because each movement is intended to emulate a speciWc lwa.

Pierre Julmis, Gressier
Pierre Julmis, an experienced drummer, provides the music and beat for Vodou celebrations. The drum is an important element in the ceremony because it symbolizes lwas and provides rhythmic beats to invoke the lwas.