Bele was a dance for and by the slaves. After a hard day working in the fields, slaves danced it, sang it to forget the ill-treatments they were victim of.
To play bele, you must have: a singer and a drum player.
For many slaves in the Caribbean, Bele was the first way to freedom, because when they played it, they were free without chains. Bele was a time when life could be normal, wonderful, human!!!

Bele today is a part of our history. We mustn 't forget it because without it we would never have been free.

TI RAOUL is a bele singer . He is a leading figure in Martinique who not only sings about the people of Martinique but also about the history of the West-Indies.

By Wilhem

• Everything about traditional music in Martinique

• Listen to a tune of traditional bélé by the very famous Ti Raoul - click here
• Listen to a tune of modern , techno bélé" bélé boumbap " (sorry, unknown artist), click here.

Dépi nou né...nous cé esclave

Dépi nou né...nous c'est à la chain'n

Pas ni la joie...pas ni ayin

Ku lan misè épi travail

Yo ven'n manman moin pou vingt francs

Tit venn'n papa moin vingt-cinq francs

Tit chien'a qui ainmin moin'a

Yo ven'n li épi yche moin'a

Mussieu Bon Dieu pou qui ou fe ça

ou mété maître épi esclave

Ba nous la liberté souplé

Pou nous pas mô en bas fouette la.

Manman chain'nla lou

papa chain'n la lou

manman chain'n la lou

I ka pésé cinq cent kilos

Since we were born, we have been slaves

Since we were born, we have had chains

We haven't had any joy, we have nothing

Only sadness and work to do

They sold my mum for 20 francs

My daddy for 25 francs

The dog that loved me

They sold him with my children

Mr Lord why did you do that ?

You created slaves and owners

Give us our freedom,please

So that we won't die when you whip us

Mum, chains are heavy

Dad, chains are heavy

Mum, chains are heavy

They weigh 500 kilograms