Haitian singer-composer, Bélo, won song has won a special Caribbean prize in the 2010 Sacem [Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique] awards for his song “Ti Jean.” Bélo and Martiniquan singer Saël, who joins him in this track, received the Sacem Award during a concert at Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, on Saturday, April 24. “Ti Jean” is a reggae-style song written to fast tempo. It deals with violence, love, and brotherhood.
Although he is best known as a reggae man, Saël’s music ranges from reggae roots to dancehall. Sung in French or Créole, his songs deliver a Rasta message with special emphasis on the environment and wholesome living. Because many of his songs speak against violence, his work with Bélo for “Ti Jean” is a perfect match.
Bélo has made around 20 appearances in the past few months for the benefit of the Red Cross, as part of its program of assistance to affected populations and the reconstruction of Haiti. He was in Montreal recently for the show “Pap Mouri Ayiti,” in March he joined Angélique Kidjo and Yannick Noah at the Alliance française of New York for another benefit concert.
On May 8, Bélo is expected at the Tampa Festival in Tampa, Florida; on May 23, he will join stellar artists from Brazil, Senegal, Benin, Mali, Madagascar, and Guinea for the “Festival des musiques métisses” in Angoulême, France; and on July 9, he will participate in the Timitar Festival in Morocco.
For full article (in French), see http://www.lenouvelliste.com/article.php?PubID=1&ArticleID=79224&PubDate=2010-04-26
Photo of Bélo (above) from http://www.horizons-dz.com/culture/1669.html
Photo of Saël (below) from http://www.reggae.fr/artiste-biographie/201_Sael.html
