Bonga Jean-Baptiste | BONGA CULTURE CENTER - Rebuild a sacred temple in Haiti

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Bonga Jean-Baptiste is a world-renowned master drummer and traditional lineage holder from Haiti. His life's dream is to restore his family's temple and maintain it as one of Haiti’s national treasures where rhythm, song, dance are used for the healing of the Earth and all peoples. The temple is also one of the only places in the area where there is clean well water available for the community.

Built in the 1960s by Bonga's father, the legendary houngan and veterinarian André “Bobo” Jean-Baptiste, the temple is considered a landmark of Afro-Haitian history, representing love, hope, resilience, and connection for so many people. Though part of the building was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake, the compound has continued to be a cultural and spiritual lifeline for the community and is one of the last remaining traditional Vodou temples in the area.

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Very little is known about authentic Vodou healing arts, its practices and way of life. Passed down through the generations and featured in Maya Deren’s iconic work Divine Horsemen, Bonga’s lineage and family temple are cornerstones of Haiti’s cultural legacy. As modernization continues to erode Vodou’s cultural landscape, there are very few people alive today who carry the intact ancestral knowledge that Bonga holds.

Now, more than ever, Haiti needs its music and traditions to feed the spirit of the people. More than ever, the people need to dance, sing, and reclaim the joy in living as practiced for generations.

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Bonga Jean-Baptiste is a musical virtuoso who has been performing and studying traditional Haitian drum, dance and song since the age of seven. He began playing drums in his family's peristil in his hometown of Croix-des-Mission in La Plaine, an area of Haiti known for culture and history.

Bonga is regarded as a master of the Afro-Haitian drum, sought-after for his extensive repertoire of pan-African rhythms. A dynamic performer, accompanist, session player and educator, Bonga works on stage, in the recording studio, and in educational settings. He is one of the few drum experts and craftsmen outside of Haiti who continues to build traditional drums using techniques that are centuries old.

As a core member of the seminal Haitian roots bands, Boukman Eksperyans and Foulà, Bonga was invited to the U.S. in the '90s when musicians were becoming a strong voice for the Haitian people. Since then, Bonga has continued to play solo and in ensemble and at numerous worldwide venues. He is a featured performer with Peter Yarrow, Grace Jones, Dan Zanes and Urban Tap, to mention a few. His drums opened the NY premiere of the Rolling Stones "Voodoo Lounge" tour and he is prominently featured on recordings by Wyclef Jean and Salif Keita.

Bonga’s first CD, Kanzo (2000), incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and funk to create a dynamic version of mizik rasin. The recording features Lou Reed, bassist Fernando Saunders, and trumpeter Frank London. Bonga’s second CD, Ayiti Afrika (2006), received critical acclaim. Featuring cellist Rufus Cappadocia, multi instrumentalist Peck Allmond and Guinean balafonist, Famoro Dioubate, Ayiti Afrika explores the African roots of Haitian music.