By Shauna Jemmott
UPON a friendly invitation, Haitian gospel star Sonday Ceran left a nation which has become prominent internationally for its high level of poverty and devastating natural and man-made disturbances, and has found peace in Guyana.Sondy is a temporary visitor, but has secured employment as a teacher in both French and Music, and longs to stay on.
As he spreads the gospel through music, a single guitar is his constant friend.
Sondy now calls Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, his home and many days he is spotted with his guitar singing at a village shop; in fact, you can hear him singing as he passes along the road in the village when he is heading out or headed home.
“My Father is always on my case trying for me to be a pastor because he is a pastor.
“He [doesn’t] have a problem that I’m a singer, but he doesn’t really like that.”
Born into what he called a strong Christian home, Sondy performed in Haiti and recently completed gigs in Curacao, Brazil, Suriname and here in Guyana.
I first met up with Sondy as he was travelling to Georgetown. His voice was distinct among the others that accompanied the gospel music in the bus. He had this Donnie McClurkin sound to be just a regular guy chanting along!
We both recognised a common interest and communication began.
He spoke graciously of his love for music and the gospel, and how his talent was developed.
He was born to a voice trainer and as he grew and was able to sing, she began training the voice of her eldest child.
The two sang together day after day, and at events in their local church, until the child grew and began singing in national fellowships before thousands of people.
A member of the ‘Body of Christ’ church in Haiti, he was a big hit every December in every national Christian fellowship as the leader of an accomplished, highly respected choir.
“It’s in that place people started seeing me and they saw I could be a star,” the singer said.
He played the guitar among other musical instruments and featured in gospel fiestas with the greats in the likes of McClurkin while travelling from congregation to congregation passing on the skill of music to thousands in Haiti.
His work through the gospel involved preaching and teaching, worshipping in choirs and playing of musical instruments among other ministries, but the love he has for music has surpassed all.
“I used to preach many times. I used to do many things, but what I feel like when I’m singing, I love that. I dream to be famous [by] preaching the gospel through my songs. [I want to] do my music and recording my music and all over the world [so] people can listen to the word of God through my songs.”
With French being his first language, he is currently recording his first album as a solo artiste in English, but which he recorded live before with the choir which he led.
Haiti alone compared to the gospel universe is a small town, and while Sondy has launched out into South America and the Caribbean, his eyes are also set on the bigger markets, North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, so that the message of the gospel can reach all the world. He has a passion not just for a daily closer walk with God, but for helping the world draw near.
“In all of my songs I ask God to make me stronger… in my songs I ask God to help me go up, help me go higher.
The new English album “Take my hand” is expected to be highly inspirational with the title song being a source for strength.
“Whenever you’re doing something, whatever you’re going through, no matter how ugly the situation might look like, if God is with you, [nothing] is impossible,” he said.
Sondy’s first song, ‘The Lord is the King’ which he recorded since he was 15, lives on as a favourite in Haiti, giving him a little more motivation that his dream of rising high in the universal gospel arena can become real.
Some years ago, he played double roles in a movie “Love exists still,” for which he also produced the theme song.