For some time in the 1970s, this quartet supported Céline Dion, then an up-and-coming young Canadian artist at the start of her career
Using Rarock as his medium – a mix of Haitian rara and rock – Haitian musician Jean Ewald Dauphin Fils known as Roro d’Haïti, brought his art and country to the international stage in the 1980s and 1990s.
Official cover of the album « Kembe » released in 1991. | Courtesy of : Jenerasyon Za.
The Port-au-Prince native says he has been obsessed with music since his childhood, under the influence of his musician father, Jean Ewald Dauphin senior.
Growing up, the guitarist and composer decided to pursue a musical career despite his father’s disapproval.
Roro d’Haiti left the country in 1968 for Canada.
There, he will go on to meet several musicians already established in this North American country.
“Jean Séjour, Joe Trio, and Alfred Dorlette are musicians who inspired me and taught me ironclad discipline which guided me for the rest of my career,” he explains to AyiboPost.
Some time later, he decided to stand on his own two feet. He then joined forces with three other young Haitian musicians in Canada with whom he formed a eponymous band.
A brief encounter will go on to make a lasting impression.
For some time in the 1970s their quartet supported, Céline Dion, then an up-and-coming young Canadian artist at the start of her career.
“Her mother, who saw us playing in a shopping center, came to see us and asked us if we could accompany her daughter who could sing,” Roro d’Haiti told AyiboPost.
But René Angélil, Dion’s agent, who would become her husband in 1994, saw things differently.
For some time in the 1970s, their quartet supported Céline Dion, then an up-and-coming young Canadian artist at the start of her career
“After a few performances, he said we didn’t have the musical maturity required to accompany Céline to where she intended to go. He invited us to his home and thanked us,” recalls Roro d’Haiti.
Céline Dion, who is known throughout the world, has received thousands of nominations and numerous awards worldwide.
René Angélil died in 2016 at the age of 73.
“It is a source of pride to have known the beginnings of this great world-class artist” rejoices Roro d’Haïti, who says he has good memories of his short collaboration with the artist.
“For years, I went to Céline concerts in Canada without needing to buy tickets,” says the musician born in Port-au-Prince in 1949.
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Roro d’Haïti and his other musical comrades continued their musical journey in North America.
His views and productions on Haitian immigration to Canada and the troubling socio-political situation in Haiti at the time earned him recognition from the Haitian community in this country.
He is regularly invited to perform during Haitian national holidays or other events involving the Haitian community.
In 1986 after the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier, his career took a major turn.
The political unrest that followed is a source of concern among the Haitian diaspora at the time.
“This situation pushed me to produce songs focused on the concerns of Haitians” explains Roro d’Haiti, who also regrets having lost part of his archives, due to a lack of resources to preserve them.
In 1991, he released his first album entitled « Kembe ».
The title « Vyòl », which expresses his frustrations with the situation in the country, is a highlight from this opus.
Other meetings and events have also left their mark.
In the 1980s, he was able to play on the same stage as Lucky Dube in Montreal.
The South African international reggae star was assassinated in Johannesburg in 2007.
“Thanks to a Jamaican friend, I was able to meet and dine with Bob Marley in 1980 in his hotel in Montreal,” adds Roro d’Haiti.
His admiration for the Jamaican reggae artist has not faded in the past 40 years.
“Bob Marley was a god at the time. It was a wonderful day for me,” he said.
Robert Nesta Marley, known as Bob Marley, died in Florida a year later.
Roro d’Haiti has performed on several stages in several countries around the world including the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, and Cuba.
In 1987, he received an invitation to play at the Saint Jean Baptiste, Quebec’s national holiday.
“It’s a major event,” the septuagenarian stresses to AyiboPost.
He anchors his production in a certain concept of Haitian identity. His compositions combine Creole and French.
“When it’s in Creole, I always take the time to explain to the non-Haitian audience what the song is about before performing it,” he adds.
In 1987, he received an invitation to play at the Saint Jean Baptiste, Quebec’s national holiday.
From 1987, with the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier, Roro d’Haiti began to get into the habit of returning to Haiti.
Aged 55 in 2004, he settled permanently in the country.
“As with many of those who have left, there comes a time when you miss your native land. At that moment, you have no other choice but to come back,” he explains to AyiboPost.
He settled in Gros Morne, a town in the Artibonite department renowned for its production of the Francis mango.
He had been there in 1954 in the aftermath of Hurricane Hazel – when his family lost everything.
Causing extensive material damage and loss of human life, Hurricane Hazel led to the arrival of the first massive shipments of humanitarian aid to Haiti.
Since 2004, Roro d’Haiti says he has immersed himself in the nature and environment of this city, where his mother who adopted him is from.
In 2020, Jenerasyon Za, a youth collective that promotes cultural and artistic development in Gros-morne, organized a signing for the « Kembe » album.
“This initiative was intended to celebrate and honor Roro’s work. He left a great legacy for Haitian artists who make socially conscious music today. And his songs still resonate with our realities,” explains Jeffsonley Altena, active member of Jenerasyon Za.
Photo illustrating a poster of the album « Kembe » by Roro d’Haïti released in 1991, at a signing in Gros Morne in 2020. | Courtesy of: Jenerasyon Za.
For the young people of Jenerasyon Za, continues Altena, Roro d’Haiti is a “father” and a role model.
For five years, Roro d’Haiti has been hosting “Hello Gros-morne,” a radio program on radio Polprompt.
As of late, his activities in Gros-Morne have not been going smoothly.
The growing influence of criminal activities instigated by the Kokorat san ras gang worries him.
Something else is also a cause for concern for the prolific musician.
“So-called “racine” music is no longer what it used to be. At the time, we had groups like Boukan Ginen and Boukman Eksperyans who produced this music. But, unfortunately, they have not been replaced,” complains the artist who hopes that music can continue to serve as a means to defend social justice and denounce inequalities.
By Wethzer Piercin & Fidano Daméus
Cover | Roro d’Haiti on radio Polprompt in Gros Morne. | Photo: Erbens Ismat – 2023
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