Folk musician Brunache awarded during Haitian diaspora symposium in Brooklyn 

BROOKLYN — John Steve Brunache, a prominent Haitian folk musician, received the Community Champion Award during the kickoff event for the Haitian Diaspora Convention Association (HDCA) Symposium held at Brooklyn College last weekend. 

New Jersey Councilwoman Charnette Frederic, representing the National Haitian-American Elected Official Network (NHAEON) coalition of Haitian lawmakers, surprised Brunache with the award for his “exceptional achievements to inspire the Haitian community.” Brunache, a Grand-Anse native, rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s with resonant melodies combined with poetry to speak to all Haitians, particularly the poor and disenfranchised. Following political turmoil in Haiti that left two members of his five-member Band Tonm-Tonm dead, Brunache fled to New York.

“Without you, none of this music would’ve traveled across these lands,” Brunache said in Creole, during his acceptance speech. 

“The mission of art is to hide the artist, while revealing the art,” he added, repeating a quote. “Meaning that all the time I spent in hiding, the music and the arts [allowed] for the lyrics and their meaning to be digested and shared across the world.” 

The two-day HDCA Symposium, organized by Theordore Fayette – a New Jersey-based Haitian TV personality – aimed to discuss the Haitian diaspora’s role in rebuilding Haiti’s economic and social infrastructure. Hosted by the Haitian Studies Institute at the college, speakers included Frantz Voltaire, producer of the documentary called “L’Histoire des Banques,” journalist and activist Michele Montas, activist Emmanuela Douyon, economist Kesner Pharel and entrepreneur Franck Cine.

Here are some images from the symposium.

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