Wesli

A committed musician known on the international stage, Wesli builds bridges between tradition and modernity, between Haiti and the rest of the world. His art is a tool of transmission, a cry from the heart, and a song of freedom. Wesli’s musical journey is as fascinating as it is inspiring: from crafting an instrument out of an oil can strung with nylon to winning a JUNO Award for World Music Album of the Year.
Born Wesley Louissaint in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he has established himself as a prolific songwriter, guitarist, and producer. In Montreal, he brings together diverse talents and blends Haitian Vodou and rara with the roots of twoubadou, Afrobeat, and reggae. His albums feature collaborations with renowned artists such as Tiken Jah Fakoly, AfrotroniX, Mes Aïeux, Paul Cargnello, and Radio Radio.
Since being named Radio-Canada Revelation 2009-2010, Wesli has earned numerous prestigious awards, including the Babel Med Music Prize (2010), SOCAN’s Hagood Hardy Award for Composition (2016), an Académie Charles Cros Prize (2019) for his representation of the diaspora, a JUNO Award for World Music Album of the Year (2019), a Félix Award for World Music Album of the Year (2019), and a CFMA Award for World Solo Artist of the Year (2020).
Wesli has toured across North America, Haiti, Colombia, Brazil, and Europe, and has taken part in major events such as WOMEX, Mundial Montréal, and the Atlantic Music Expo in Cape Verde.
His boundless creativity led him to release two albums in 2015: Immigrant, acclaimed by critics, and the more traditional Ayiti Étoile Nouvelle. In 2018, he released Rapadou Kréyol, followed by Tradisyon, launched internationally on October 21, 2022, in partnership with the American label Cumbancha. His new album, “Makaya”, is set for release on November 18, 2025.