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.
Tande M Tande
Boukman Eksperyans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tande'm tande, bon pawol ap pale
Tande'm tande konnen'm konnen.
Tande'm tande... bon pawol ap pale.
Tande'm tande, tande'm tande
Tande'm tande bon pawol la ap pale.
Bon pawol ap pale timounooo vin tande
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen(ki komanse)
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Wi bon pawol ap pale O timoun yo rasanble
Tande'm tande O se lanmou ki pral gouvène
Tande'm tande(ki pral gouvènee).
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Wi bon pawol ap pale Ginen yo vin tande.
Oo tande'm tande tout priyè ki vin retounen
Tande'm tande(ki retounen)
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Wi bon pawol ap pale bay pawol la pale
Tande'm tande se ginen yo ki pral gouvène
Tande'm tande(woy woo gouvène vree)
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale.
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Wi bon pawol ap pale timoun yo vin koute
Tande'm tande revolisyon an ki komanse
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen(woowooy)
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Wi bon pawol ap pale timoun yo rasanble
Tande'm tande O se lanmoun ki pral gouvène
Tande'm tande(wowowo wi'm tandeee)
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale, bon koze ap pale,
Bon pawol ap pale, bon pawol ap pale kretyen vivan nou la vin tande
Tande'm tande pawol lan la l' pral pale
Tande'm tande (waaaar)
Wi bon pawol la ap pale timoun yo vin tande
Tande'm tande O se lanmoun ki pral gouvène
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen
Tande'm tande (woowooy)tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Tande'm tande konnen'm konnen
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen
Tande'm tande, bon pawol la ap pale
Tande'm tande konnen'm konnen
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Tande'm tandeeeeee.
The song "Tande M Tande" by Boukman Eksperyans is a call to action for the Haitian people to listen and understand the messages being conveyed through their culture and history. The repeated phrase "Tande'm Tande, Konnen'm Konnen" translates to "Listen to me, Listen to me, Understand me, Understand me." The lyrics emphasize the importance of communication and understanding in building a better future for Haiti. The line "Bon pawol ap pale" means "good words are being spoken" and speaks to the power of positive messages and encouragement.
The song's theme of revolution is also apparent in the lyrics. The line "Tande'm Tande revolisyon an ki komanse" means "Listen to the revolution that has begun." This is a reference to the Haitian Revolution of 1791, which led to the country's independence from France. The song encourages the Haitian people to continue the fight for their rights and to create change through unity and understanding.
Overall, "Tande M Tande" is a powerful anthem that speaks to the importance of listening, understanding, and fighting for change. Its message of hope and empowerment has resonated with the people of Haiti and beyond for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
Tande'm tande.konnen'm konnen.
Listen to me, understand me.
Tande'm tande, bon pawol ap pale
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Tande'm tande konnen'm konnen.
Listen to me, understand me.
Tande'm tande... bon pawol ap pale.
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Tande'm tande, tande'm tande
Listen to me, listen to me.
Tande'm tande bon pawol la ap pale.
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Bon pawol ap pale timounooo vin tande
Good words are being spoken, children have come to listen.
Tande'm tande revolisyon an ki komanse
Listen to me, the revolution has begun.
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen(ki komanse)
Listen to me, understand me (which has begun).
Wi bon pawol ap pale O timoun yo rasanble
Yes, good words are being spoken, the children are gathering.
Tande'm tande O se lanmou ki pral gouvène
Listen to me, it is love that will govern.
Tande'm tande(ki pral gouvènee).
Listen to me (which will govern).
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen
Listen to me, understand me.
Wi bon pawol ap pale Ginen yo vin tande.
Yes, good words are being spoken, Ginen has come to listen.
Oo tande'm tande tout priyè ki vin retounen
Oh, listen to me, all prayers that have returned.
Tande'm tande(ki retounen)
Listen to me (that have returned).
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Wi bon pawol ap pale bay pawol la pale
Yes, good words are being spoken, let the words be spoken.
Tande'm tande se ginen yo ki pral gouvène
Listen to me, it is Ginen who will govern.
Tande'm tande(woy woo gouvène vree)
Listen to me (woy woo true government).
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale.
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen
Listen to me, understand me.
Wi bon pawol ap pale timoun yo vin koute
Yes, good words are being spoken, the children have come to listen.
Tande'm tande revolisyon an ki komanse
Listen to me, the revolution has begun.
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen(woowooy)
Listen to me, understand me (woowooy).
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Wi bon pawol ap pale timoun yo rasanble
Yes, good words are being spoken, the children are gathering.
Tande'm tande O se lanmoun ki pral gouvène
Listen to me, it is love that will govern.
Tande'm tande(wowowo wi'm tandeee)
Listen to me (wowowo I'm listening).
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale, bon koze ap pale,
Listen to me, good words are being spoken, good conversation is happening.
Bon pawol ap pale, bon pawol ap pale kretyen vivan nou la vin tande
Good words are being spoken, good words are being spoken, the living Christian has come to listen.
Tande'm tande pawol lan la l' pral pale
Listen to me, the word that will be spoken.
Tande'm tande (waaaar)
Listen to me (waaaar).
Wi bon pawol la ap pale timoun yo vin tande
Yes, good words are being spoken, the children have come to listen.
Tande'm tande O se lanmoun ki pral gouvène
Listen to me, it is love that will govern.
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen
Listen to me, understand me.
Tande'm tande (woowooy)tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Listen to me (woowooy) listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Tande'm tande konnen'm konnen
Listen to me, understand me.
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Tande'm tande, konnen'm konnen
Listen to me, understand me.
Tande'm tande, bon pawol la ap pale
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Tande'm tande konnen'm konnen
Listen to me, understand me.
Tande'm tande bon pawol ap pale
Listen to me, good words are being spoken.
Tande'm tandeeeeee.
Listen to meeeeee.
Writer(s): mimerose beaubrun, theodore beaubrun jr.
Contributed by Josiah L. 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