After the revelations about the sexual assaults committed by the founder of Emmaüs, the Martinican singer deleted the reference to the former priest in “Soulman”. Instead, he now evokes the famous Martinique politician, Aimé Césaire.
“I don’t have the look of Spike Lee / I don’t have the genius of Da Vinci / I don’t have my feet on the ground / The patience of my banker / I don’t have those things.” From the first melodies, everyone easily recognizes the song Soulman which made singer-songwriter Ben l’Oncle Soul famous in 2010.
In this funk track, a mix of R&B and soul, the singer whose father is from Martinique pays tribute to the great artistic, political, cultural or sporting figures who have marked the world through their fight. He greets the “fervor” by Rosa Parks and the “courage” of Nelson Mandela, praises him “regard” by Spike Lee, jealous “chance” de Neil Armstrong, admire “insurance” of Mohamed Ali but also “humor” de Charlie Chaplin.
Among its heroes and heroines, one of the rare French names that appears in the original text is that of Abbé Pierre. “I don’t have the soul of a gangster / The goodness of Abbé Pierre / Nor the aura of Guevara”sings Benjamin Duterde, the real name of Ben l’Uncle Soul.
Celebrated for his humanitarian work and his fight for housing for the underprivileged, Abbé Pierre, who created the Emmaüs foundation, is a recognized figure in France, but also around the world. But, recently, his aura has been tainted following revelations about his behavior towards women, who accused him of sexual assault.
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Since July, testimonies and journalistic investigations have multiplied against this man of the Church whose “goodness”like Uncle Soul. Control, rape, touching… Abbé Pierre no longer has anything holy about him. The Emmaüs foundation, at the origin of the revelations, even announced that it would find a new name. Many schools, parks and streets have since been renamed.
Benjamin Duterde’s song is no exception to this boycott movement. Saturday December 28, Ben l’Oncle Soul was invited to the Star Academy set on TF1 to perform his flagship title with a student. But, instead of the name of Abbé Pierre, it is now that of Aimé Césaire, famous political and intellectual figure of Martinique, which is intoned by the singers: “I don’t have the wisdom of Gandhi / The confidence of Mohamed Ali / I don’t have the soul of a gangster / The goodness of Aimé Césaire / Nor the aura of Guevara.”
Going relatively unnoticed, this change in speech was still welcomed by some, such as Laurent Boyet, president of the Les Papillons association which fights against violence against children. “Thank you Ben l’Oncle Soul for replacing Abbé Pierre with Aimé Césaire. Something is really changing”he applauded on X.
Ben l’Oncle Soul, who celebrated his 40th birthday in November, did not comment on this change of lyrics in his cult song. In 2011, just after the immense success of Soulmanthe Martinican was committed to fighting poor housing with the Abbé Pierre Foundation. Next year, he will make his comeback with a tour of France and Europe to present his 8th album, where he will undoubtedly celebrate the “goodness” by Aimé Césaire.
