MUSIC

Riské
HISTORY & HERITAGE
Tolotra

Riské: the 100% all-female Haitian konpa band that made history in Haiti

In January 1991, a new group appeared on the Haitian konpa scene. Fourteen musicians decided to form Riskéan all-female orchestra in a male-dominated field. At a time when women are rarely present behind the instruments in konpa bands, this initiative represents a major breakthrough in the organization of the Haitian music scene. The project is the brainchild of two singers, Sandra Jean and Sabrina Kolbjornsensoon joined by Gina Rouzeau and Maguy Limage. Around them, ten instrumentalists complete the ensemble: bassists, keyboardists, drummers and percussionists. From the outset, the objective was clear: to demonstrate that female musicians can perform all the functions of an orchestra, from writing to interpretation, and not be confined to the role of singer or chorister. Sandra Jean sums up this ambition in an interview with the newspaper La Presse in 1992: Riské was created to encourage Haitian women to break out of the traditional roles often

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