BélO
MAR 8 & 9
7:30 PM
ringling.org
ORIGINAL PHOTO BY HERVAY PETION
PHOTO BY FREDERIC DUPOUX
BÉLO (HAITI)
BélO has been hailed as Haiti’s musical ambassador to the world. A socially conscious singer-songwriter with a sophisticated sound and winner of numerous awards, including the prestigious “Prix Radio France International Discoveries of 2006,” BelO’s sound is a sublime mixture of Jazz, Worldbeat, Rock, Reggae and Afro- Haitian traditional rhythms known as “Ragganga”. With six albums already under his belt-“LAKOU TRANKIL” (2005) “REFERENCE” (2008), Haiti Debout (2011), Natif Natal (2014) Dizan (2016) and Motivasyon (2019) -sung in his rich and colorful native language, Haitian Creole, BélO has established himself as a Haitian-International artist signpost. After the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, BélO ‘s primary focus was to create awareness for his country at various performances around the world. BélO ‘s third album “HAITI DEBOUT,” (Haiti Standup -2011) was released under Radio France/France Info and distributed, globally, by Harmonia Mundi. During the “ HAITI DEBOUT “ tour, BélO has performed in Germany, Rome, Romania, France, South Korea, London, Canada and the U.S.
BélO has always been very committed to the cause of the less fortunate, the education of children, respect for women, social solidarity and environmental protection, peace in Haiti and around the world. The earthquake, which devastated his country, gives more strength to his commitment and intensifies the messages he conveys in his songs.
“HAITI DEBOUT “ is dedicated to Haiti and the strength of the Haitian people. With the third album, BélO took a step further into the roots sound exploring the Haitian “Rasin” rhythms and African flavors where we notice the presence of the talking drum and other similar percussions. During his travels, BélO met numerous musicians who wanted to share the love he has for his country by contributing a part of their culture to the album; hence Blick Bassy from Cameroun, Sael from Martinique, Thierry Fanfan from Guadeloupe, Amen Viana and Jean Baptiste Gbadoe from Togo, Harouna Samake and Prince from Mali, Patrick Ruffino from Benin, David Aubaille and Jean Lamoot from France and Gabriel Saeintz. Yet, the album would not be complete without his support system and Haitian entourage, and they are: Fabrice Rouzier, Andy Barrow, Harold StLouis, Joel Widmaier, Valencia Laguerre, Carlomagno Araya, Jowee Omicil, Emmanuella Michel and Claude Saturne.
BélO showcased his talent at globalFEST (Jan 2012). globalFEST is one of the most dynamic global music platforms in North America. The same year, BélO was invited to participate at the Center Stage month tour (Oct-Nov 2012) in the U.S. Center Stage is a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. During the Center Stage tour, BélO performed and conducted numerous seminars across America.
BélO released “Natif Natal” (Global release date April 9, 2014) with a worldwide tour beginning in the United States. “Banm Nouvel”, single and music video, was the first release off “Natif Natal” in 2013. Natif Natal, is a journey of emotional social struggles, love and the need to belong.
BélO’s “Dizan” (10 years) released on April 15, 2016. Dizan (10 years) comprises two discs with 11 identical organic acoustic tracks. The first disc revamps BélO’s hits in a solo version. The second disc is a vocal hybrid interpretation of the same tracks by a host of Haitian artists from different musical genres (Konpa, Rasin, Rap Kreyol, Reggae and Folk). The tracks are hand picked from four of the previous albums to create the Best of BélO, a total of 22 songs.
BélO’s newest album “Motivation” was due for release on April 06, 2019, but, because of the political situation in Haïti, especially the lockdown prevented him from finishing the work and meet the deadline. The album came out (July 9, 2019) at a particular time where a wave of hopelessness is raging and ravaging the mind of the youth throughout our beloved country of Haïti. It is like a sandstorm in an old paradise transformed to hell, where the Haitians living on the land feel that they are in exile inside their own borders and an exodus seems to be the only way out of this misery. A nation that had invented the word freedom is now under an unparalleled infernal attack.
Beyond poetry and philosophy, beyond sophisticated melodies and orchestration, the goal of this album is to uplift the Haitian spirit. As a watchman and a messenger, he using his voice as a tool to help his people find an answer to all the problems that they are facing as a nation.
DONY FELIX Bass
OKAI Percussionist
ROBENSON DESIUS Electric guitar
JOHNBERN THOMAS Drummer
ROAD MANAGER Karl Leger
GENERAL MANAGER Cynthia Karaha DON’T
UN POYO ROJO
FLORIDA WOMAN
MISS THESE UPCOMING PERFORMANCES! Join us this season at the HAT’s pre- and post- show hang out in the Benfer Courtyard. Grab a drink, chat with friends, and discuss the performances in a casual, outdoor neighborhood space. See you @ the HAT Lounge!
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2023/24 ART OF PERFORMANCE SPONSORS
This program is supported in part by the Art of Performance Fund, Arthur F. and Ulla R. Searing Endowment, Dorothy Jenkins Endowment at the John and Mable Ringling Museum, Ellin Family Art of Our Time Endowment, Ed & Elaine Keating Endowment, Ringling Art of Performance Endowment, Selby Foundation Ringling Museum Endowment, Cowles Charitable Trust, Huisking Foundation, David and Mary Benfer, Michael and Kathy Bush, Warren R. and Marie E. Colbert, Leon and Marge Ellin, Judith and Stephen Shank, and Marge and Irv Weiser.
THE RINGLING’S ART OF PERFORMANCE delivers broad access to provocative and timely performing arts that reflect a wide range of experiences, disciplines, and relevant cultural expressions. The series embodies The Ringling’s values of inclusion, inspiration, and excellence through programs that elevate community engagement, equitable partnerships, and the plural exchange of ideas in tandem with visiting artists. Besides public programs, we support Florida-based, national, and international performance makers in developmental residencies and creative research.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the State Art Museum of Florida administered by Florida State University. It features an art museum, historic mansion, circus museum, historic theater, conservation laboratory, arboretum, and research library, situated on 66-acres of bayfront property in Sarasota. The Ringling is an extraordinary center of art and culture engaging with the local, state, and global communities, and is accessible to and inclusive of all.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Ringling respectfully acknowledges that we are located on the traditional Homelands and the ancestral territories of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, as well as the ancient tribes of the Calusa, Uzita and Tocobaga. We also acknowledge the local freedomseeking community called Angola, and the people later known as Black Seminoles.
We honor the resiliency of Indigenous communities, and we extend our gratitude as we live and work on their Homelands. We pay our respect to the Elders, both past and present, who have stewarded these lands and waters through generations since time immemorial.