Altiery Dorival And His Haitian Twoubadou Music

Updated December 31, 2012 6:53 PM

Altiery Dorival is a popular Haitian musician playing twoubadou music. He is well known for his unique kompa style and amazing banjo plucking sound. Listening to his songs can give anyone a feel and atmosphere of the Caribbean and French antillian tropics. The winter is the best season to sound trip to Dorival's songs as it can surely help you battle the cold.

Among his popular hits are Si'm Fe Ou Bagay, Tete Your Pa Manye Couer Moin, Caresse Moin, Ce Li Roi, Jacqueline, Toute Fem Ce Ter Heritie, Sauciss, Mesdames Yo Ce Lamp, and Kele Keke. Many Haitians know Dorival as he's been a part of the Haiti folk music history, along with other twoubadou artists such as Ti Paris, Toto Necessite, and Rodrigue Millien.

Twoubadou is an important part of Haitian music. Encompassing the rural-urban and class divisions, twoubadou has become a culture. Twoubadou artists use small string-based ensembles. You would usually see a twoubadaou group playing two guitars, a tanbou, a manumba and a graj. A thumb piano is also used to form the ensemble. Most twoubadou songs are about life and love and all the humor, fun, bitterness and challenges that come with it. Using meaningful lyrics, twoubadou singers such as Dorival are seen as a conscience and soul of a generation.

You would usually hear twoubadou music in certain places in Haiti such as hotels and restaurants. It is also often played during carnivals and parties, especially if there are a lot of foreigners and tourists. This is because twoubadou can reflect Haiti's culture, tradition, and history.

Altiery Dorival Music Video

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