• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Search
  • Things To Do in NYC
  • Art
  • Dance
  • Festivals
  • Film
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Theatre
New York Latin Culture Magazine®

New York Latin Culture Magazine®

World-class Indigenous, European & African Culture since 2012

  • New York
  • Latin
  • Culture
  • Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Sponsor

Boukman Eksperyans Plays Haitian Vodou Rock Reggae After the West Indian Day Parade


Boukman Eksperyans is one of Haiti’s most famous musical groups. Their mizik rasin is a form of Haitian roots music that blends Haitian Vodou traditions with rock and reggae. That places it in the Latin alternative frame.

Boukman Eksperyans in New York City

Boukman Eksperyans (Lakay Photography/Lincoln Center)
Boukman Eksperyans (Lakay Photography/Lincoln Center)

East Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Boukman Eksperyans plays Haitian mizik rasin (Haitian Vodou rock reggae) at the Konpa Kingdom show with Wyclef, Tvice, Ekip, Stakz, and TonyMix & Friends; at the Brooklyn Mirage at Avant Gardner in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn; on Labor Day Monday, September 2, 2024 at 7pm. From $90. 🇭🇹

New York City Venues

  • Avant Gardner in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
  • Lincoln Center in Manhattan

Boukman Eksperyans

Boukman Eksperyans “Jou Nou Revolte”

Boukman Eksperyans was founded in 1978 by the Beaubrun family, in particular Theodore Beaubrun, Jr. (Lolo). The social consciousness of American rhythm and blues (soul music) had a big impact on African Diaspora musicians around the world. Lolo lived for a time in New York City where he was influenced by the Black Pride of James Brown and Bob Marley. He wanted to bring the same pride into Haitian music.

“Boukman” is a reference to Dutty Boukman, an early leader of the Maroons (Free Blacks) and the Haitian Revolution. They called him Boukman because he was a man of The Book (The Koran). Islam and Vodou are two of the great religions of Mother Afrika. Boukman was present at the Vodou ceremonies where the Revolution was planned. The “Experience” part of their name was inspired by The Jimi Hendrix Experience rock band (1966-1970). You can hear the Hendrix influence here and there in the music.

The band was first noticed at Port-au-Prince Carnival in 1990 when their song “Ké-M Pa Sote” (YouTube) became a protest song against the military government. That put the band in danger.

Voudou Adjae

The first Boukman Eksperyans album in 1991 was nominated for a Grammy. It captured the spirit of the times in Haiti. 1991 was a time of change. President Aristide was overthrown in a coup d’etat, and the band had to go into exile for a time.

When countries have an identity crisis, people look to their roots, and Vodou is very much part of Haitian roots. Many Haitians believe that the Vodou religion is what enabled them to overcome human slavery and found a free nation. There is nothing bad or scary about Vodou. It’s a beautiful, highly-developed religion just like all other religions. The scary stories are Hollywood nonsense written by American soldiers after the occupation of Haiti (1915-1934). They saw the Kongo religious traditions that are central to Haitian Vodou and completely misinterpreted them from a Christian point of view that makes no sense at all.

Anyway “Vodou Adjae” is still a great album after all these years. You can hear many different influences that combined in a uniquely Haitian way becomes influential itself. God bless Haiti Cherie!

More Information

boukmaneksperyans.com
Facebook @BoukmanEksperyans
Instagram @boukmaneksperyans


Published August 27, 2024 ~ Updated August 27, 2024.

Filed Under: Brooklyn, Haitian, Labor Day Weekend, Latin Alternative, Latin Folk, Latin Rock, MUSIC

Subscribe

Get New York Latin Culture Magazine weekly in your email. We don’t share, rent, or sell addresses. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Primary Sidebar

Things to Do in NYC

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Son Cubano + Rumba, Guajira & Salsa

Albita (Hostos Center)

Albita Celebrates the Evolution of Cuban Music From Rumba and Música Guajira, to Son Cubano and Salsa

Theatre Professionals ~ Employers Network

Find your next project. Discover your next team. Do it on RISE.

Sponsored By The Best Of New York

92nd Street Y, New York

Capulli Mexican Dance Company 🇲🇽

Brooklyn Museum

Carnegie Hall

Harlem Stage

Hostos Center

Melvis Santa & Jazz Orishas 🇨🇺

Metropolitan Opera

National Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Parade 🇺🇸

New York City Center

NYU Skirball Center

RISE Theatre Directory

Teatro Real ~ Royal Opera of Madrid 🇪🇸

World Music Institute

Footer

Search

Things to do in NYC

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

New York City

Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island ~ New Jersey

Latin Music and Dance

Bachata, Ballet, Cumbia, Classical, Flamenco, Hip Hop, House, Jazz, Merengue, Modern Dance, Opera, Pop, Reggaeton, Regional Mexican, Rock, Salsa, Samba, Tango, World Music

North American

African American, Honduran, Indigenous, Jewish, Mexican

Caribbean

Cuban, Dominican, Haitian, Puerto Rican, Trinidadian

South American

Argentine, Bolivian, Brazilian, Chilean, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Peruvian, Venezuelan

African

African American, Nigerian, South African

European

French, Portuguese, Spanish

Follow

X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, YouTube, TikTok

Subscribe

Get New York Latin Culture Magazine in your email

advertise

Sponsor

Details

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy

New York Latin Culture Magazine® and Tango Beat® are registered trademarks, and New York Latin Culture™ is a trademark of Keith Widyolar. Other marks are the property of their respective holders.

Copyright © 2012–2025 New York Latin Culture Magazine®. All Rights Reserved.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we assume you are ok with it.Ok