Boukman Eksperyans was founded by Lolo Beaubrun and his wife Mimerose. Beaubrun's father was a comedian and was often referred to as the Bill Cosby of Haiti. While on tour in the United States, he brought back a James Brown LP which left a lasting impression on young Lolo. After his parents divorced, he followed his mother to Brooklyn, New York. In the United States, he studied two years of Business Administration.
Lolo returned to Haiti in 1978, and there were bands playing music known as minidjaz as part of the first "roots" music movement. To Lolo, they seemed to pay no attention to song lyrics that dealt with reality. They were even accused of standing too close to the Duvaliers. When Lolo and Mimrose began to seek their musical goals, they felt a strong desire to incorporate the African element in Haiti's culture into their music. They decided to combine roots music with vodou religious and musical traditions. The greater vision was to use their music to combine the structures found in common throughout world religions with Haitian vodou.
Lolo's grandfather was deeply involved in vodou, but his parents never made this available to him. Lolo and Mimrose entered their first vodou lakou-s, a Haitian spiritual community, where they met musicians and singers. They also got their first real glance at the African culture of Haiti in the form it was handed down from members of various tribes. They founded a group to study vodou music, gave it the name of Moun Ife ("People of the Abode of the Deities"). Lolo stated that Bob Marley, another important musical inspiration, made him think. When he heard the Jamaican legend in 1976, he thought he could create something similar in Haiti with vodou. Lolo and Mimerose began to perform as a live act in the 1980s.
The traditional roots instruments were replaced by electric instruments, like the bass guitar and two guitars played by members Eddy François and Daniel 'Daby' Beaubrun, Lolo's brother and the band's chief arranger. To honor both the 18th century vodou priest and the "high priest of rock music", Jimi Hendrix, the band chose the name Boukman Eksperyans. Since the beginning, starting with the first encounters made by the Beaubruns with deep African roots, Boukman Eksperyans has remained steadfastly linked to the Ginen ("Guinea") vodou line. The band calls it vodou adjaye after a vodou ceremonial dance. This was also the title of their first album, released in 1991.
Boukman Eksperyan first became famous in 1990 when they presented their song "Ke'm Pa Sote" at the Carnival celebration in Port-au-Prince. The song included the refrain "My heart doesn't leap, I'm not afraid". This song was a protest against the living conditions under the post-Duvalier interim military government of General Prosper Avril. After a young girl was shot dead by a soldier, this song became an out-and-out battle hymn admonishing the government. The band continued to write and perform rebellious songs. The band members were never directly threatened, but were advised 'never go out at night'. When the military junta overthrew president Jean-Bertran Aristide in 1991, the band decided to leave the country for their own safety.
Konbit Zaka
Boukman Eksperyans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kouzen zaka map travay ave w tande
Travay map travay ooooo
Zaka mete m map travay ave w tande .
Kouto digo m nan menm djakout men sou do m map sekle
Kouto digo m menm vye alfo m sou dom map sekle
Jou m gon fanm l ale kite m demen ma jwenn yon lot oo
Zaka mete m travay
Zaka mete travay
Mpat panse si m te ka fe travay sa yo
Zaka mete m travay la nan bitasyon mwen
Zaka mete m travay
Zaka mete m travay
Mpat panse sim te ka fe travay sa yo
Zaka mete m travay la nan bitasyon mwen
Map travay ave w
Kouzen map travay ave w tande
Kouzen kouzen map travay ave w tande
Kouzen map travay ave w tande
Kouzen kouzen map travay avew tande
The lyrics of Boukman Eksperyans's song Konbit Zaka are about the importance of hard work and collaboration. The main message of the song is that in order to achieve success, one must work hard and work together with others. The lyrics repeatedly mention the act of working, with the singer proclaiming "Travay map travay ooooo" ("I work, I work") and "Zaka mete m travay" ("Zaka put me to work"). In addition, the singer emphasizes the importance of following the lead of Zaka, a Haitian god associated with agriculture and hard work.
The second half of the song focuses on the collaboration aspect of the message. The lyrics mention "Kouzen" multiple times, which refers to a Haitian vodou spirit associated with agriculture and farming. Through this metaphor, the song suggests that just as Kouzen helps Zaka with his work, people should also help each other in their own work. The repetitive use of the phrase "Map travay ave w" ("I work with you") drives this message home even further.
Line by Line Meaning
Travay map travay ooooooo
I am working and working hard
Kouzen zaka map travay ave w tande
Kouzen Zaka, I am working with you and listening to your guidance
Zaka mete m map travay ave w tande .
Zaka motivates me to work with you and follow your lead
Kouto digo m nan menm djakout men sou do m map sekle
I hold my machete in one hand, but I am picking sugarcane with the other
Kouto digo m menm vye alfo m sou dom map sekle
Even though I am an old warrior, I am still working hard in the field
Jou m gon fanm l ale kite m demen ma jwenn yon lot oo
Although my woman left me today, tomorrow I will find another one
Map travay ave w
I am working with you
Zaka mete m travay
Zaka inspires me to work hard
Zaka mete travay
Zaka brings the work to us
Mpat panse si m te ka fe travay sa yo
I didn't think I could do this work, but I am doing it now
Zaka mete m travay la nan bitasyon mwen
Zaka puts the work right in my home
Kouzen map travay ave w tande
Cousin, I am working with you and listening to your guidance
Kouzen kouzen map travay ave w tande
Cousin, cousin, I am working with you and listening to your guidance
Kouzen map travay ave w tande
Cousin, I am working with you and listening to your guidance
Kouzen kouzen map travay avew tande
Cousin, cousin, I am working with you and listening to your guidance
Writer(s): Daniel Beaubrun, Traditional
Contributed by Josiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Diferan
on Aba Karanklou
Aba karanklou , move payas, Kalfou Danjere se kanaval yo m pap janm pa tande , byen ke PHTK Achte diyite group sa , pou mwen ki group ki referans pou tout Ayiti ! Malgre tou m toujou renmen Boukman