This year again, producers, artists, music lovers from all over the world gathered at the Cercle Bellevue in Bourdon for the 5th edition of Musique en Folie, a cultural event organized every year by the daily newspaper LE NOUVELLISTE in partnership with UNIBANK, RUM BARBANCOURT and the participation of the record stores of the place. Innovations are being made at all levels. The organizers wanted to comfort the public after a few months of respite due in part to the political turmoil in the country. Among other innovations, it is necessary to mention the formula applied by the initiators to facilitate the access to the thousands of people who frequented the Cercle Bellevue on November 13 and 14 to either buy CDs or to have fun. Because the atmosphere was at its height.
In addition to the offer of CDs, the 5th edition of Musique en Folie hosted a wide range of socio-cultural activities. Under the auspices of TICKET MAGAZINE and the local TV channel, TELEMAX, several dozens of talented youngsters have performed “Live” in front of a crowd of people from diverse backgrounds. In pieces of texts, choreographies, interpretations of both national and international hits such as Time to say goodbye by Andrea Boccelli, participants in the TICKET MAX ACADEMIE contest were able to put this huge crowd into a boil, a compact crowd, overexcited by the rumbling of the loudspeakers.
This 5th edition of Musique en Folie was also the occasion for the Haitian stars to launch messages of peace and national reconciliation. Stanley Toussaint (Tantan) of LAKOL, Jacques Sauveur Jean, known as Jackito, Gracia Delva of MASS KONPA, Carl Frédéric Berhmann of DEGA, Joe Zenny of KONPA KREYOL, all expressed the wish to see a united Haiti, a peaceful Haiti where where Haitians in perfect communion work for the benefit of the entire community. Stanley Toussaint, who refers to the November 2 presidential elections won by Republican George W. Bush against his rival John Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, calls on the protagonists of the Haitian crisis to follow the example of the Americans who pass the interest of the entire American community. As for Carl Frédéric Berhmann, he believes that the violence recorded in the Haitian capital these days has serious consequences on cultural activities. Nightclubs are less crowded. Against his will the public is forced to stay at home, regretted the star singer of the group DEGA who has just signed his new album.
On the side of the music buffs who made the move, it is total satisfaction. The 95% of those interviewed have all suggested that this year, Musique en Folie is an unprecedented event, an initiative that has never been made in Haiti. “Despite the political turmoil, this Music Fair has been sold out,” said a participant who was eager to obtain an autograph from Joe Zenny of KONPA KREYOL
The Haitian Stars’ search for autographs was an extremely difficult and challenging one for the supporters and the stars who were at the Cercle Bellevue during those two days. Superstars including Jude Jean of K-DANS, Auguste Duverger (Pouchon) of DJAKOUT MIZIK, Michaël Benjamin, Evens Jean, Gracia Delva, Joe Zenny were caught in an indescribable vise. In front of the podium of TICKET MAX, the singer of KONPA KREYOL was sandwiched. As for Pouchon de DJAKOUT MIZIK, he was carried by the crowd without his feet touching the ground.
For its part, the owner of the NOUVELLISTE, Max Chauvet, has placed the essence of Musique en Folie as part of a promotion for Haitian CDs. The same reaction from Jackson Joseph, a cultural presenter at Radio Plus, one of the Capital’s stations to ensure the live broadcast of this cultural event.
This is one of the best initiatives ever undertaken in Haiti, a truly extraordinary initiative, Jackson Joseph acknowledged. He added that the Haitian culture was very close, and it was this crowd of people who had the most influence on me. “We should think much more about such initiatives,” he said. Jackson Joseph also elaborated on Radio Plus’s decision to broadcast such an event.
People of all colors are so numerous and we at Radio Plus, we felt it necessary to ensure the retransmission, added the animator of VARIETES PLUS who places his approach within the framework of a campaign of promotion for the Haitian music and not for the Station of the street Pavée.
Apart from the music fair, the Daily newspaper in partnership with UNIBANK organizes every year the Book Fair, commonly called BOOKS IN FOLIE. The latter is in its 10th edition. And like MUSIQUE EN FOLIE, the initiators are already bringing many innovations during the 11th edition scheduled for June next year.
Finally, some people think that Musique en Folie, for this year, remains and remains a cultural event that has never been seen before. Maybe, the very last of the year! So who was missing this cultural event? Firefighters? As for the Forces de l’ordre and the Red Cross rescuers, they were indeed part of the party.
