This study will investigate the performance motivations of three Haitian musicians based in South Florida who use their artistic platforms to offer a version of their country omitted from dominant media projections of the country. This study focuses on narrative as a device that allows these musicians to offer counterstories against dominantly negative media projections that have real effects on Haitians. The thesis will examine the work of world beat artist Erol Josué and his performance motivations in global record markets. His work as a oungan (Vodou priest) plays a large role in the composition of his “electro-Vodou” world beat music, but is also the source of misrepresentation by the label that relies on the disjuncture created by biased narratives in the media. The second focus of this thesis observes the performance motivations of two musicians: Jean-Michel Dauder and Aldore “Empress Addi” Casseus of Rara Rock and their actions in cultural settings to offer a version of Haiti not seen in media presentations. Utilizing frameworks of disjuncture, transnationalism, and world music, this thesis will utilize local ethnologies to contextualize Haitian performance practices in global and local situations.
Open Source Archives
We strive to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and the implementation of progressive and participatory research methods, with the goal of generating tangible, durable changes in the way research about Haiti is conceptualized, implemented and applied.
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Research Hub & Open Source Archives
EKO HAITI Research Hub is a research and knowledge mobilization platform focused on creative, collaborative and interdisciplinary research and associated research-based learning. We aim to become the intellectual “home” for research about Haiti by creating and providing open access to the largest crowdsourced research archive dedicated to Haiti, by fostering cross-disciplinary research and innovation, and by providing support for progressive research in the form of contextual expertise and training.
“The trees fall from time to time, but the voice of the forest never loses its power. Life begins.”
Jacques Alexis, Les Arbres Musiciens (Paris, 1957)
ORAL HISTORIES
Oral histories are a powerful tool in developing historical understanding
Oral history offers an alternative to conventional history, filling gaps in traditional research with personal accounts of historically significant events or simply life in a specific place and time. Oral histories do more than provide charming details to dry historical accounts. In fact, oral histories help others recapture lived experiences that are not written down in traditional sources.
> Transcripts archive
" Bwa pi wo di li wè lwen, men grenn pwomennen di li wè pi lwen pase l "
The tallest tree says that it sees far, but the seed that travels says that it sees even further.
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