S.Atibon Legba was born in Haiti. He recalls, his penchant for the arts developed as a toddler as he danced while clutched to his grandmother’s skirt watching masked revelers during carnival.The magic of theatre seduced him as he observed his great uncle's (Renel Delsoin) character transformation to Azibe in Haiti's longest running tv show Langichat.
As an actor, Atibon has played several authoritative roles both on stage and in film which include: Ya Ma’Afrika(yamaafrika.com), A Raisin in the Sun, Waiting for Godot, Zucco, For All We Know, Perfect Disorder, Bawon Samdi, Fade to Black,recently featured in a two hour History Channel documentary: Slave Catchers, Slave Resisters as Big Sandy, Stolen Genius(PBS, NOVA), Struggle (Cheche Lavi) and Don’t Tell Me You Love Me to name a few.
Mr. Nazaire studied theatre at Boston College, Harvard University and at the Atlantic Acting School in NY.A consummate musician, he co-founded the musical groups Batwel Rada and Tjovi Ginen, two bands known for their fusion of Haitian devotional music with contemporary arrangements. Both groups enjoyed a great deal of success in the international music community, and were nominated for The Boston Music Awards. His guest appearances as a percussionist include “The Art of Black Dance and Music’s 20th anniversary,†and a recently recorded soundtrack for the stage production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, presented by the Cotuit Center for the Arts. Additional appearances include various programs sponsored by the Boston Community Center, Arts in Progress and Kids Art.As a Radio Announcer, he presented Kalfou Simidò, a weekly radio program, for six years on WZBC radio (90.3 FM). Through his programming, Mr Nazaire explored the roots of contemporary music of Africa and her Diaspora. He interviewed musicians, musicologists, poets, actors, storytellers, dancers and community activists. Some of the interviews included: Gilberto Gil, Djavan, Caetano Veloso, Manu Dibango, Zap Mama, Ali Farka Toure, Stella Chiwese, Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita, Youssou N’dour, Baba Maal,Danielle Georges, Tontongi, Boukman Ekxperyans, Burning Spear, Leny Andrade, Brandford Marsalis, Gill Scott Heron, Phillip Hamilton, Poncho Sanchez, Los Munequitos and Afrocuba de Matanzaz just to name a few.As an educator, Mr Nazaire conducted workshops, lectured and performed at several universities throughout New-York and New- England, that include speaking in the Boston public schools, teaching percussion at The Boston Center for Art Therapy and performing as a percussionist and actor in Brenda Walcott’s production of “Tongues of Fire.†Brenda Walcott, a poet and playwright says of Mr Nazaire:“Atibon is a total artist. He was identified as such from early childhood at which time his training in music and dance performance began. His career as a dancer had an untimely interruption due to an automobile accident at the age of sixteen, but he is a formidable performer and maker of art. His photography brings a warm intensity and poetic nuance in the depiction of life in Haiti and throughout her Diaspora.â€
"MWENMENM/ME in a Rockband TV adMe,mwenmenm with 50cents/Akon as d prison guard
Check d i out with Angelique kidjo and Joss Stone in their adaptation of the Rolling Stones' track Gimme Shelter
Slave Catchers, Slave Resiters
