Remembering Joseph ‘Rameau’ Poleon

Social Worker, community leader, youth, and cultural activist Kendal Elva has described the passing of renowned folk musician Joseph “Rameau” Poleon as a colossal loss for the southern community of Belle Vue and Saint Lucia.

The ninety-five-year-old Poleon passed away on July 22, 2024.

“For us, Rameau was a cultural gem,” Elva, who lives a stone’s throw from the cultural icon, told St. Lucia Times.

“He put Belle Vue on the map and Saint Lucia on the global stage and we the people of Belle Vue have been left in a state of mourning as we try to come to terms with the transitioning of this cultural royalty, which is what Rameau was in every sense of the terminology,” Elva stated.

Kendal Elva recalled becoming familiar with Joseph Rameau Poleon from early childhood.

He recounted that Rameau would often invite some of the young people of the community (Elva included) into his home to share his wisdom and love for the community.

“Rameau was a very wise and knowledgeable man as well as a talented folk violinist, winning the best folk violinist competition in Saint Lucia on two occasions,” Elva discloed.

While the deceased’s presence will be sorely missed, Elva said he is thankful that Rameau Poleon’s legacy would live on through other musicians in the community, some related to the late violinist.

“Rameau mentored several young musicians, inclusive of his children, and others,” Elva explained.

“A lot of the work which is being done in Belle Vue to brand it as Saint Lucia’s cultural capital is in recognition of the sterling contribution that Joseph Rameau Poleon would have made to our cultural landscape,” he said.

“It is because of him that Belle Vue can boast of having the largest La Rose group. It is because of Rameau that Avot Servis is indeed one of the most exciting folk bands in Saint Lucia and it is because of Joseph Rameau Poleon that we host so many cultural activities in the community of Belle Vue inclusive of Jounen Kweyol, Fete Kweyol en Belle Vue, Belle Vue music En Sa Nou and so much more”, Elva told St. Lucia Times.

“So we are most grateful for what Rameau has done for the community and we are going to continue implementing activities whereby we can get the young people to understand that as Saint Lucians our culture is unique and we ought to be proud of it. Rameau believed that the culture is something that we can use to establish a great sense of community and national pride and for that we will remain eternally grateful,” Kendal Elva declared.