In a text full of nostalgia and poetry, André Fouad dives back into the musical world of Cubano, an iconic figure of an entire era and several generations.
In a text full of nostalgia and poetry, André Fouad dives back into the musical world of Cubano, a prominent figure of a whole era and several generations. Through the vivid memory of “Refijye,” the poet makes the voices of exile, wandering, and hope resonate, while also celebrating the elegance, talent, and stage presence of the Shah-Shah singer. His sensitive perspective invites us to rediscover Cubano, an artist whose songs, far beyond mere memories, continue to carry an astonishing relevance.There are some songs that flow through my veins like the rivers of the world and that I consume without moderation, without mood swings, in my room, under the gaze of an old childhood photo and the soft light of this black-and-white night lamp.
This is the case with the musical piece “Refijye,” recorded on the first album of the charismatic singer of the band Shah-Shah, Jean-Elie Telfort, better known as Cubano, from the city of Port-de-Paix. Indeed, I must admit, I have great respect for him, because he stands out from other singers of his generation with his aura, his smooth speech, his elegance, and above all his impressive stage presence, cleverly mastering tchatcha, percussion, and harmonica.
“Refijye” calls out to me, hugs me, summons me as an immigrant in a country inhabited by the demons of racism and segregation, where more than 300,000 of our fellow citizens today face the threat of deportation. All day long, ICE agents move through the streets, spreading fear and panic among holders of the famed TPS card, at a time when Republican President Donald Trump’s administration is tightening its immigration policy.
For the umpteenth time, “Refijye” calls to me like a prayer, through its konpa texture, its guitar riffs, its transpositions, and its careful and timeless brass arrangements, which remind me of famous groups like El Gran Combo, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Frères Dejean, Magnum Band, and even Kool & the Gang. In this sense, we have to salute the masterful work done by Dernst Emile, the former husband of singer Yanick Étienne, who is especially known for her track “Mistè Damou,” with jazz and blues resonances.
Dernst, a guitarist by profession and a first-rate arranger, has drawn from countless musical sources throughout his career: jazz, blues, funk, Afro, and Latin, to create a major and sublime body of work. How many young musicians really know him well enough?
Through this musical work, the Cuban singer-songwriter evokes the pains and hopes of the journeys, from the island of Tortuga to the Florida coasts, in a poignant, moving lyricism that reflects the situation faced by our brothers and sisters forced to seek refuge under supposedly kinder skies, whether in Chile, Turkey, Brazil, Canada, the Bahamas, or Santo Domingo.
