‘Haiti is not dead!’: Moonlight Benjamin fuses Vodou and rock in US return

By William Farrington

HOLYOKE, Mass. — Moonlight Benjamin’s lyrics are sung in Haitian Creole and speak to a Haitian audience, but the powerful juxtaposition of melody and rhythm in her music appeals to listeners on a visceral level. Almost from the moment she walked on stage at De La Luz Soundstage on a quiet Sunday, the polite reserve of the audience dissolved. Her melodies — inspired by Vodou, grounded in Haitian traditional music, and backed by crashing rock chords and brilliant guitar work — had a noticeably powerful effect.

Benjamin returned to the United States for a few East Coast dates before continuing her tour in Europe. It was the first chance to hear the Toulouse, France-based Haitian singer since her breakout performances at globalFEST and NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series in New York City in 2023.

Before her March 30 show in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Benjamin spoke to The Haitian Times about finding possibility in difficulty and about reaching out to discover the richness in our differences. The set that followed drew from her new album, “Wayo,” and earlier releases “Siltane” (2017) and “Simido” (2020).

“All my music is tied to Vodou, although all the instruments are not Vodou, they are instruments that play the blues, it all derives from the slaves’ music,” Benjamin said.

“Rock comes from blues and in the end, I am playing our ancestors’ music. This choice to merge [to make this fusion] is precisely to meet others.”

Her band includes longtime collaborator and guitarist-arranger Matthis Pascaud, along with Matthieu Vial-Collet on guitar and Quentin Rochas on bass. Brooklyn-based drummer Matthew Bent joined for the U.S. dates, replacing Simon Lemonnier. The result was a sonic soundscape featuring interlocking guitar work that, at times, broke free from traditional 12-bar blues structures while building tension and atmosphere.

“I think the soul of music roams all over the world. Every time you go to these places, Louisiana, Haiti, Chicago, we feel the soul of the slaves, of Africa, so inevitably there is a connection, because their soul still lives there,” Benjamin said. 

“It’s interesting that to enrich ourselves, we have to go to others, that’s why I make this mix, rock — a music that Westerners play — with my culture, with what I am. It’s to meet others and for the other to come to meet me.”

While all her songs are about Haiti and she sings in Creole, her message to Haitians and non-Haitians is universal.

“It’s true that we are all different, even within the same culture, music shows me that difference is a richness,” Benjamin said.

“As much as we must go towards the other, it’s very important to know oneself. For this merger to be a healthy merger, and for it to take place in a friendly atmosphere, we must know ourselves.”

The set included her recent single “Bafon,” which Benjamin says is “a message of hope” about Haiti.

“My country of origin grips me, and what happens there does not leave me without a cry. The song is a metaphor; it evokes the burial and the end of Haiti, as if it is a person,” Benjamin said. 

In the song, Haiti arrives at the cemetery, but no one — not even the dead — wants this burial to happen. The guardian of the cemetery, the chief of the dead, Master Baron, declares that he does not have the green light from Master Kafou, who opposes the burial and affirms that “no, Haiti is not dead, she still carries life in her!”

Her musical journey began while growing up in a religious family and singing in the choir. When she started living on her own she was introduced to Vodou culture and Vodou-inspired music.

“I was interested in that culture, the outfits and the music, and I wanted to know more, what was going on with that music,” Benjamin said.

Her curiosity eventually led her to France, where she studied music formally and later formed her own band. Living abroad, she said, has deepened both her artistic expression and her understanding of herself. The experience of being outside Haiti gave her a new perspective on identity, self-reflection, and growth — as well as a stronger sense of connection to others through music.

Her changed perspective on Haiti after living abroad is deeply reflected in her album “Wayo.”

“It allowed me [living in France] to see the suffering of these people that I didn’t see when I was there because we suffered together, which was normal for me. But as soon as you travel, you realize that this suffering was not normal,” Benjamin said.

Since the release of “Wayo,” she has composed and collaborated with international artists, including the Latin band Bongo Hop, and is scheduled to perform in Brazil in October 

She said she would love to bring her band to Haiti.

“We were planning to a few years back, but COVID came, and the security situation made it impossible,” Benjamin said.

Despite the challenges, Benjamin remains guided by hope.

“There are no small dreams. Despite the hardships we are going through, it is important to keep our dreams alive,” Benjamin said. 

“This is my line of conduct for years: thanks to our dreams, our desires come to life. Awaken your dreams, believe in yourself and they become a goal and not a fantasy!”

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