June 3, 2003

Technical Help
Artist:
Marlene Dorcena
Title:
Mèsy
Label:
Contre-Jour
Country:
Haiti
Region:
The Americas
Music Available from:
Public Broadcasting One
More World Music at:
BBC Music OnlineUS forces overthrew a military regime in Haiti in 1994 and helped put a former priest in power. But Haitians are arguably no better off today than they were before. People in the Caribbean nation continue to be oppressed by their government and Haiti's economy is nearly non-existent. One of Haiti's major exports is Haitians. The World's Marco Werman tells us about one Haitian refugee who lives in Belgium but whose music is rooted in her homeland. The musical career of Marlene Dorcena seemed to take off in 1991. She had a tour of Europe and performed with a theater troupe in Belgium. Almost as soon as Dorcena got home to Haiti, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown in a coup d'etat. Marlene Dorcena decided to leave, and returned to Belgium. This is how Marlene Dorcena remembers Haiti. She writes songs about her country. In this one, entitled "Wangol," she speaks to someone just like herself. The person has left Haiti, and the singer is imploring them to come home. In creole, Marlene Dorcena sings "the country is suffering and we're being eaten by worry. Come back," she sings, "and bring the house to life." Marlene Dorcena sings a cappella here. Melodically, it could be a folk song from the Haitian countryside. Lyrically though, all of Dorcena's music comes out of the same motivator: to be an ambassador for the cause of Haiti and its people. This song about family comes out of Dorcena's own experience. She was one of seven children. Religion was part of their upbringing. And Marlene followed her sisters' example singing at church. Between the choir and her grandfather's passion for making instruments, music was a natural part of Marlene Dorcena's life. Marlene Dorcena continues to live in Belgium. She feels for the moment that she can contribute more to Haiti by making her music and helping non-governmental organizations raise interest and money in the poorest country in the Americas. Mesy, creole for merci, is the title of Marlene Dorcena's recent and first recording. For The World, I'm Marco Werman.