Beethova Obas
twoubadou, chanson
Beethova Obas is a Haitian singer, guitarist, and songwriter born in Port-au-Prince on March 25, 1964. His given name reflects his father Charles Obas's passion for classical music; after Charles was assassinated under Duvalier in 1969, the instruments left in the family workshop became part of Beethova's private memory. He learned accordion, then guitar, and developed a sound that can seem gentle while carrying sharp criticism.
He emerged in the late 1980s as a songwriter, notably with 'Plezi Mize' for Emeline Michel, before moving into his own voice. 'Le Chant de Liberté' in 1990 placed him on Haitian radio, and his collaboration with Malavoi on the 'Matébis' project opened Caribbean and European stages. 'Si...' in 1994 and 'Pa Prese' deepened his reputation as a writer who uses Creole, French, nylon-string guitar, Vodou rhythms, jazz, bossa, and troubadour song to address the country, love, ecology, and moral crisis.
Beethova Obas matters because he keeps Haitian music in a listening space. He does not need carnival volume or a large orchestra to sound Haitian. In 'Si', 'Couleur Café', 'Nou Pa Moun', 'Lina', 'Ase Babye', and related songs, he turns soft melody into a place for questions about memory, dignity, and the relationship to Haiti.