Founded in 1982, Zèklè was born from brothers Joël and Mushi Widmaier’s desire to create a distinctive sound. According to Ed Rainer Sainvill in his book Tambours Frappés, Haïtiens Campés, Zèklè “emerged as one of the offspring of the musical syncretism that characterized the atmosphere of the late seventies.” The group arose “from the rhythmic overflow of its twin, Lakansyèl, a band exploring a tonal and syncopated polyrhythmic concept with binary structure.” “After working on a recording project for Jean Claude Verdier, we realized that we all shared something in common—this desire to make a different kind of music,” the founders explained in an interview with Kompa Magazine.

The original lineup included Joël Widmaier (drums and vocals), Mushi Widmaier (keyboards), Raoul Denis Jr. (keyboards), Ralph Boncy (lyricist), Claude Marcelin (guitar), D.T. Richard (guitar), William Jean (tom), and Ralph Boney. In 1981, during a recording session in New York, the group met bassist Joe Charles, who immediately joined. The name “Zèklè” (“lightning”) was suggested by Herby Widmaier, the founders’ father and a sound engineer, after hearing the master tape.