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Wesli: Haitian Roots

Wesli, also known as Wesley Louissaint, is a Haitian-Canadian musician who received the Canadian Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year in 2019. Growing up in a family of eight, where music was an integral part of daily life, Wesli turned to music to cope with the challenges of his surroundings. At an early age, he constructed his first guitar out of an old NGO-provided oil can and nylon shoelace.

Wesli's music is a fusion of diverse genres, including Haitian voodoo, roots, reggae, Afrobeat, electronic music, and hip-hop. He performs with his acoustic formation or his larger band, which deliver a complex and engaging sound. The universality of his messages, which convey hope, truth, and peace, resonates with his audience.

In 2021, Wesli signed with Cumbancha and released the reggae song and video "Le Soleil Descend." This was followed in June 2022 by the single and video "Bontan Iyalélé," which combines Haitian voodoo chants with electronic music featuring AfrotroniX, an African DJ and producer. Both songs are part of Wesli's two-album project called Tradisyon, which explores the past and future of Haitian music.


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