Honor to Boulo Valcourt!

This November 17 marks eight years since the death of Boulo Valcourt, a 'mapou' (a significant figure) forgotten in the turmoil of our society and this interminable crisis that engulfs us….

This text is a tribute from LionelEdouardPhotographiesociale to this monument of Haitian music.

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Honor to Boulo Valcourt!

It was worth hearing Boulo Valcourt's voice bounce off the notes of his guitar, a faithful companion during his hours of great glory. A delight that bears no wrinkles deepened by time. If today 'Kè nou fè nou mal' (Our hearts ache), facing his departure which further darkens the artistic and especially musical horizon of the country, in this context marked by the tinkering of sound — not to say mediocre music — and ease elevated to the rank of art, it is above all because we vainly search amidst the tumults and the cacophonous atmosphere of this land of rhythm, dance, and color, for a hypothetical successor who would make us relive the musical epics of yesteryear, in which Boulo was a preponderant actor. Nostalgic, yes we are!

'Lapèsonn' (The people) would undoubtedly bid Boulo farewell, failing to 'ti van pou li' (give him a little wind/support him), so much did he contribute in his particular style to making his art grow. Young, in the late 80s and early 90s, I was bored in front of the TV, while parents focused on retro moments, in the festive darkness of a Saturday evening on the public service channel. I therefore had to grow up to understand this music that soothes, that suggests moments of intense and rare escape. This living heritage that has traversed time thus makes eternal this voice that resonates and even triumphs in the heart of a silence that expresses the infinite through the language of a soul that continues to seek its light and taste the absolute freedom that music offers.

Boulo Valcourt, like a true 'Kòk gagè' (fighting cock), showed courage by offering himself to the delight of music lovers until the very end, despite the continuous assaults of the malaise that led him to the banks of the Styx. So Boulo, 'Ou ale' (You are gone) and we mourn you, but these tears streaming down our cheeks will dry, because 'Nap mete gason sou nou' (We will be strong) by remembering those moments of bliss you offered with the Caribbean Sextet. Each of us keeps a part of you within us, 'Nou kenbe w la' (We hold you here). What a pity! We won't be able to accompany you during your crossing. 'Vin Avèm' (Come with me) will therefore remain an unfulfilled wish, but will never be a false note in this recital that elevated you to the rank of icon and accomplished musical aesthete.

Boulo Valcourt built history and largely stood out from the crowd. He made his voice a brand, an unconditional pass in the Haitian musical universe. The sonic richness offered to future generations is akin to the gift of fire given to humans by the gods of Olympus. Its depth offers the human spirit an unparalleled field of research, the possibility of creating new sounds and expressing the movements of our society in a universally accepted language. Boulo's music had this unifying virtue that is lacking in many sectors of national life. He managed to delight elites as well as lovers of popular music. 'Ou ale' (You are gone) is an illustration of these moments of communion that blurred the desires of 'elite' music lovers to dismiss the 'popular' and vice versa…