Today, every group, every composer of dance music in the Caribbean owes something to Konpa, even Zouk, considering the strong influence of Konpa musicians on Jacob Desvarieux, the major founder of Zouk.
Jaspora
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
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Wyclef qui sot nan Fugee
Jeremie! Ayiti! Potoprens! Flatbush!
Sout fiere d'etre Haitien mache
Jaspora n'pa respecte Jaspora
Depui mwen piti, mwen te kite Ayiti
Gen sa ki al Brooklyn, gen sa ki al Miami
Poukisa Jamayken toujou di se Jamayken?
Men Ayitien, pè di li se Ayitien
Poukisa ou pè di non se Samyèl?
Poukisa sa ou pé di'w ave Israel?
Poukisa ca chak swe ou ap domi a Jezabèl?
Ou pè di fanm ayisyen oh ke yo bèl?
Fanm nou bel
Mwen respecte nou tankou
Mwen respekte zanj Gabriyèl
Men nèg dyaspora vle mennen nou nan hotel
Tombe parle anglais, vire "playboy channel"
Yo pa respecte Israel
Jaspora n' pa respecte Jaspora
Si c'est Jaspora li ye map voye' l'Americaine
Jaspora n'a pas respecte Jaspora
Si c'est Jaspora liee aswè a nap dezame'l
Jaspora ha ha, oh la men
Mape pran li jete il prizon
Map fè'l konnen kiles ki Tousen
Map fè'l konnen kiles ki Desalin
Apre sa nous mèt lage'l voyel back Brooklyn
Pou la'l jwenn manman'n kap fe manje nan kwizin
Mannan'n gade li di ti gason ou chanje
Li di mwen chanje paske se Ayitien mwen ye
Yo te ban mwen yon leson, yo te mete'm nan prison
Mwen wè dyaspora fi, dyaspora gason
Gen sa ki pap toune ape domi a pwason
Yo pedi konesans kankou yo fèt san relijyon
Dyaspora n'pa respekte dyaspora
Si se dyaspora ou ye mape voye'w bay reken
Dyaspora n'pa respekte dyaspora
Si se dyaspora ou ye aswè a nap dezame'w
Le Potoprens pa respecte Jaspora
Nèg Flatbush pa respecte Jaspora
Nèg Canada pa respecte Jaspora
Nèg Miami pa respecte Jaspora
Depui mwen piti, mwen te kite Ayiti
Gen sa ki al Brooklyn, gen sa ki al Miami
Poukisa Jamayken toujou di se Jamayken?
Men Ayitien pe di li se Ayitien
Pouki sa ou pe di non se Samuèl?
Pouki sa ou pe di'w avec Israel?
Pouki sa chak swe ou ap domi a JeZabèl?
Ou pè di fanm ayisyen oh ke yo bèl?
Fanm nou bel
Mwen respecte nou tankou
Mwen respecte zanj gabriyèl
Men nèg dyaspora vle mennen noun nan hotèl
Tombe pale anglais, vire "playboy channel"
Yo n'pa respecte Israel
Jaspora n'pa respecte Jaspora
Si se Jaspora ou ye mape voyo'w bay reken
Jaspora n'a pas respecte Jaspora
Si se dyaspora ou ye aswè a nap dezame'w
Pa Kayos pa respekte dyaspora
Papa Djoume pa respekte dyaspora
Refugees pa respekte dyaspora
Nèg Florida pa respekte dyaspora
Malfini bagay yo pral fini mal,
Sou'w desrespecte natif natal
Malfini bagay yo pral fini mal
Desrespecte ayisyen ou pral kout fistibal
Jaspora n'pa respecte Jaspora
Si se Jaspora ou ye mape voy o bay reken
Jaspora n'pa respecte Jaspora
Si se Jaspora ou ye aswè a nap dezame'w
The lyrics to "Jaspora" by Wyclef Jean explore the lack of unity and respect for one another within the Haitian diaspora. The opening lines "Men sa le monde antye tap tann / Wyclef qui sot nan Fugee" are a nod to his previous work as part of The Fugees, showcasing his credibility as an artist in the world of music. The song highlights the division within the Haitian community, with different regions like Jeremie, Ayiti, Potoprens, and Flatbush taking pride in their Haitian heritage but also disrespecting each other. The lyrics ask why Jamaicans can unify under their identity but Haitians cannot differentiate between themselves. It also questions the reasons for Haitians to change their names to fit in with other cultures and the hypocrisy of the diaspora who do not respect each other but demand respect from others.
Wyclef Jean also mentions elements of his personal life, such as leaving Haiti at a young age and witnessing the uncouth behavior of some members of the diaspora. He emphasizes his respect and admiration for the women of Haiti and compares them to angel Gabriel, highlighting their beauty and strength. He also mentions encounters with the diaspora that try to lead him astray and the prison he was once in. The lyrics underline the importance of acknowledging one's roots and the importance of unity within the Haitian community in overcoming obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Men sa le monde antye tap tann
This is what the world has been waiting for
Wyclef qui sot nan Fugee
Here is Wyclef who rose to fame with the Fugees
Jeremie! Ayiti! Potoprens! Flatbush!
Jeremie, Haiti, Port-au-Prince, and Flatbush
Sout fiere d'etre Haitien mache
We walk proudly as Haitians
Jaspora n'pa respecte Jaspora
The diaspora does not respect itself
Depui mwen piti, mwen te kite Ayiti
Since I was little, I left Haiti
Gen sa ki al Brooklyn, gen sa ki al Miami
Some went to Brooklyn, some went to Miami
Poukisa Jamayken toujou di se Jamayken?
Why do Jamaicans always say they're Jamaicans?
Men Ayitien, pè di li se Ayitien
But Haitians proudly say they're Haitian
Poukisa ou pè di non se Samyèl?
Why do you call yourself Samuel?
Poukisa sa ou pé di'w ave Israel?
Why do you say you're with Israel?
Poukisa ca chak swe ou ap domi a Jezabèl?
Why are you sleeping with Jezebel?
Ou pè di fanm ayisyen oh ke yo bèl?
Why do you say Haitian women are beautiful?
Fanm nou bel
Our women are beautiful
Mwen respecte nou tankou
I respect you like
Mwen respekte zanj Gabriyèl
I respect Archangel Gabriel
Men nèg dyaspora vle mennen nou nan hotel
But diaspora men want to take us to hotels
Tombe parle anglais, vire "playboy channel"
Speak English and turn on "Playboy Channel"
Yo pa respecte Israel
They don't even respect Israel
Jaspora ha ha, oh la men
Diaspora, oh man
Mape pran li jete il prizon
I'll take them and throw them in jail
Map fè'l konnen kiles ki Tousen
Let them know who Tousen is
Map fè'l konnen kiles ki Desalin
Let them know who Desalin is
Apre sa nous mèt lage'l voyel back Brooklyn
After that, we'll let them fly back to Brooklyn
Pou la'l jwenn manman'n kap fe manje nan kwizin
So they can find their mothers cooking in the kitchen
Mannan'n gade li di ti gason ou chanje
My mom looked at him and said, "You've changed"
Li di mwen chanje paske se Ayitien mwen ye
He said, "I changed because I'm Haitian"
Yo te ban mwen yon leson, yo te mete'm nan prison
They taught me a lesson, they put me in jail
Mwen wè dyaspora fi, dyaspora gason
I see diaspora women and men
Gen sa ki pap toune ape domi a pwason
Some won't even turn towards their own people and prefer to sleep with a fish
Yo pedi konesans kankou yo fèt san relijyon
They've lost their knowledge and pride like they were born without religion
Dyaspora n'pa respekte dyaspora
The diaspora doesn't respect the diaspora
Si se dyaspora ou ye mape voye'w bay reken
If you're diaspora, I'll send you back with injuries
Le Potoprens pa respecte Jaspora
Even Port-au-Prince doesn't respect the diaspora
Nèg Flatbush pa respecte Jaspora
Flatbush natives don't respect the diaspora
Nèg Canada pa respecte Jaspora
Canadian natives don't respect the diaspora
Nèg Miami pa respecte Jaspora
Miami natives don't respect the diaspora
Pa Kayos pa respekte dyaspora
Kayos natives don't respect the diaspora
Papa Djoume pa respekte dyaspora
Papa Djoume doesn't respect the diaspora
Refugees pa respekte dyaspora
Refugees don't respect the diaspora
Nèg Florida pa respekte dyaspora
Florida natives don't respect the diaspora
Malfini bagay yo pral fini mal,
Bad things are going to happen
Sou'w desrespecte natif natal
When you disrespect your own people
Desrespecte ayisyen ou pral kout fistibal
Disrespect Haitians and you'll get your festival cut short
Jaspora n'pa respecte Jaspora
The diaspora doesn't respect itself
Si se Jaspora ou ye mape voy o bay reken
If you're the diaspora, I'll send you back with injuries
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEAN, MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind