Manno Charlemagne - Haiti Observer Blog

Manno Charlemagne AKA Joseph Emmanuel Charlemagne and Konpè Filo AKA Anthony Pascal are two popular Haitian artists who just find themselves out of commission. Literally speaking, these two were originally selected by the Martelly government to take part of the Commission of electoral evaluation. However after further negotiation and in an effort to have a more balanced commission, they were replaced by Me Gédéon Jean representing the human rights sector and Pastor Louis Armand, representing the Protestant Church.

What do you think?

Will this new commission become more acceptable t the opposition?

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Born in Port-au-Prince on the last day of December 1956, Lyonel Trouillot grew up with an interest in literature. From a family of lawyers, Trouillot began following the prescribed route early on and studied law until his love of the written word won out and he started writing seriously.

He was forced to leave Haiti in the 1980's due to the regime of Jean-Claude Duvalier and he ran to America. Having not lost his love of writing, Trouillot continued to write for magazines, newspapers and other publications as he'd done in Haiti, and also across the Diaspora. He created essays, novels, poems, and even song lyrics in the case of songs by artists such as Jean Coulanges, Manno Charlemagne, Atis Endepandan and Tambou Libète.

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The poignant song by Koralen Jean-Claude Martino, arguably most famously sung by Manno Charlemagne, speaks to the melancholy horrors of Haitians' second instance of being sold into slavery, by the United States during their first occupation of the country, between 1914 and 1934.

Strung together by notes of a minor influence, with lyrics that invoke the despondency of those experiencing life as the Vyewo, sold to work on sugar plantations in neighboring countries, the mainly somber melody is interspersed with contrastingly allegro moments, creating an empathetic understanding, even in those who do not understand the language sung.

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