AYABONMBE
Music of Liberation
PAST – PRESENT - FUTURE
“Ayabonmbe” is a cry of war that the Arawak Indians on the island of Ayiti/Quisqueya/Bohio used when fighting multiple invaders on their sacred homeland. Ayabonmbe, a cry that most Haitian people are crying today, not of war, but for the continuous struggle for justice, democracy and liberty.
Ayabonmbe, is a World Beat musical group, led by Marc Joseph that has been performing internationally for twenty-one years. The group, with an Afro-Haitian, rock and jazz fusion sound, today is a community based entertainment and education organization that utilizes the Afro-Haitian culture to promote a positive outlook of the Haitian people around the world. Ayabonmbe is primarily based in South Florida with two other offices, St. Louis, Missouri and Aquin, Haiti. Their mission is to recruit new members, educate future instructors, performers and conduct more research in the Haitian culture.
Ayabonmbe was formed in May 1991, made noise in the music industry with their hit song music video “Severine” in 2001 CD “U Don’t Know Me” and the musical “Refugee” in 2007. The group produced the CD “Haiti United” with the collaboration of other artists to raise funds for the rebuilding effort in Haiti during the 2010 catastrophe. Ayabonmbe also collaborated with a dance group from Jacmel to participate for a six week tour in France. In the past Ayabonmbe assisted educationally and musically the Haitian Heritage Museum of Miami, Haitian Organization of Women of Homestead, Haitian Cultural Society of Florida, Milagro Foundation of Delray Beach, Old School Square, Caribbean Friends of Jacksonville, St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Notre Dame Catholic Church, Arts South of Homestead and other organizations in the U.S. and Haiti.
Ayabonmbe Past
Performances Internationally: Bob Marley Festival, Panorama Percussivo Mundial, Festival d’Espoir, Bouyon Racine, Rasin Festival, Global Beat, Caribbean Fest, Filozofi Gede, Rasin Festival, Haiti United Tour 2010, Festival d’Issoire, Celebrations of Nations, Africa /USA, Creole Festival, Haitian Music Award, Festival de Montignac, Festival de Maintenon, Festival de Montoire, Festival de Felletin, Festival de Cugand, Roots and Culture Festival, Rolling Stones/Vodoo Lounge Tour, World of Nation Festival, St. Louis African Arts Festival, Brevard Caribbean Jamboree, World of Nations, and Roots and Culture Festival.
Discography: Soley Leve -1992, U Don’t Know Me – 2000, and Haiti United – 2010, Haiti Smile - 2012.
Music Videos: Le a Rive – 1998, Severine – 2000, O Ayiti – 2006, and No More -2008.
Artist Accompanied: Wyclef Jean, Manno Charlemagne, Kiki Wainwright, Ballet Bakoulou of Jacmel, Eddie Francois of Boukan Guinen, Mario Morose of Chandel, Kessy of Koudjay, Carole Demesmin, Andre Fouad, and the musical “Refugee”.
Ayabonmbe has also conducted cultural workshops in most of the events it participated to expose the Haitian culture locally and abroad.
Ayabonmbe Today
Ayabonmbe is preparing the “pepinieres” young members through Ayati Center’s: Next Generation who will proudly continue to maintain the Haitian heritage and its legacy in the future. The group is presently performing on a monthly basis in local clubs with future scheduled festival and concert dates internationally. In the meantime they are proudly assisting the Art South of Homestead with their music, dance and theater program. Ayabonmbe’s lead singer and dance director, Rodney “Patou,” Lindor is conducting drum and dance workshops in the St. Louis area, while Marc “Mako” Joseph, the president of the organization, is coordinating the South Florida and Haiti education and entertainment activities.
Ayabonmbe’s present band members are four vocalist and dancers, five percussionists, two guitars, one bass guitar and keyboards, with kone players for added roots sound: Shalla Lucien, Jose Mondelus, Steve Biko Residor, Celain “Mr. Zee” Noel, Billy “Jay” Jacquet, Marie Jose “Doune” Cean, Isnel “B-Real” Jean, Joe Richard Jean- Baptiste, Thiery Cean, Sergo Lubin, Fabiola Benoit, Wesly Jean-Charles, Wilkenson “Ti Do” Laronde and Jean - Claude Jules are all responsible band members to pass on and maintain the Ayabonmbe legacy.
AyabonmbeFutures
Aybonmbe is in the process to release officially another World Beat CD entitled “HAITI SMILE” during the month of December 2012 along with some music videos. The proceeds of the CD and DVD will go towards the Haiti Reforestation Project. There will be international tours to promote the CD beginning late summer. The group is always in the process of working jointly with other local Haitian and World artists on musical projects for cultural exchange. Ayabonmbe will back up Marc Joseph’s next musical “Who’s Superstitious?” due to premiere in late October 2013.
The songs and music video “Haiti Smile” and “Vacance Province” will be the featured songs on the new Ayabonmbe release.
Ayabonmbe is embarking on a late summer tour to promote their latest CD release “Haiti Smile. The tour will start in Haiti on August 11th, 2012, followed by selected U.S. cities in September of this year. A tour in France during mid-May, 2013, and Canada in September of the same year are also planned. 
