In January 1991, two singer friends decided to embark on a different kind of musical project. Sandra Jean and Sabrina Kolbjornsen, joined by Gina Rouzeau and Maguy Limage, brought together ten instrumentalists—all women—and formed the group Riské. Their ambition was clear: to prove that female musicians could write, compose, and play, not merely sing or serve as objects of desire.

“Society in general, and the Haitian community in particular, does not give enough space to women,” Sandra Jean told La Presse in 1992. “We created Riské to inspire those who don’t dare break out of their confines. We want to lead by example.”