Like clear river water over smooth surfaced rocks, the rhythm of Haitian culture flowed refreshingly from a large tent in the middle of the National Mall, at the 2004 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The sound of “Ti Coca,” and his group Wanga Nègès, escaped over the crowd and through the cracks of the tent, like the smell of fine cuisine from a popular restaurant. Like the Coca Cola drink he is named after, the world discovered an exciting artist from Haiti.

The 2004 Smithsonian Folklife Festival gave the world a tremendous look into Haitian culture. The festival titled, “Haiti: Freedom and Creativity, from the Mountain to the Sea,” brought together fishermen, and Vodou priests, flag makers and hat makers, stone carvers and paper makers, but it also brought us David Mettelus, better known as Ti Coca.

Twoubadou, the form of music that Ti Coca plays, comes from a mixture of Cuban and Dominican music. It is played mainly with acoustic guitars and drums. His band, Wanga Nègès, accompanied Ti Coca with guitar, drums, and accordion. The group, formed almost thirty years ago, may finally be reaching its ultimate overnight success. This fall Ti Coca will tour the United States along side Miguel Santiago Diaz of Puerto Rico and Slinger Francisco, better known as The Mighty Sparrow, of Trinidad, as part of the Masters of Caribbean Music Tour.

With his energetic presence on stage, Ti Coca quickly became one of the most popular attractions at the festival, where at times he played to standing room only under the tent. Standing barely taller than the microphone stand, yet , he commanded the stage and filled the tent with a deep soulful voice. David “Ti Coca” Mettelus left the audience, especially many from the diaspora, with a new vision and new respect for the Haitian culture.

Ti Coca on TV
Montgomery County, Maryland, Channel 19
(Montgomery Community Television, Comcast Cable)
Monday November 7, 6:30 PM
Monday November 14, 6:30 PM

Ti Coca on Tour
Masters of Caribbean Music Tour
featuring Puerto Rican Jibaro, Trinidadian Calypso,
and Haitian Twoubadou