The man most responsible for informing the nation's tastes on music from beyond its usual scope has just returned from a trip to Haiti. Alongside compas, the country's traditional dance style, and troubadouw, its folk music played mariarchi-style by wandering musicians in the city's streets, rap is being made in Haiti these days. These kids are taking this American musical style and making it distinctly Haitian, rapping in Creole, and using an accordion to give it a French feel - it's a long way from gold chains and no brains. I met some lads who rap.
Rap is the latest style to sweep through a country with a rich musical heritage.
Kershaw has Haitian music from the country's pre-Papa Doc days, including the ebullient jazz of 1950s big band Les Jazz du Jeune, and the records of his favourite Haitian band leader, Coupe Cloue. It's just so elegant. Now its the most wrecked city I've seen outside of Angola. Talking of which, an Angolan visit in 1987 was soundtracked by the Hunter Thompson of rock, Warren Zevon. I was in a town called Quito, and the main street had been turned into a frontline between the government and rebels.