Haitians are in mourning, tributes are raining and the local media have been upsetting their programs since Sunday after the announcement of the death, on stage Saturday, October 15 in Paris, of singer Mikaben, at the age of 41.
Real name Michael Benjamin, the artist died of cardiac arrest while performing on stage with the Haitian music group Carimi at the Accor Arena in Paris. According videos posted on social media, the singer suddenly collapsed while performing a piece during a concert that marked the reunion of the Carimi group, six years after its dissolution. The concert was interrupted and the room was then evacuated, according to several testimonies.
I had a hard time sharing this video from the concert of #Carimi, but it’s the only kind of image I agree to see and share. Goodbye #MikaBen pic.twitter.com/hdTS3G6ESg
— Miguel Charles (@MonsieurKali) October 16, 2022
As of Saturday evening, radio stations and nightclubs in Haiti began looping the artist’s songs, broadcasting special programs to pay tribute to him. “It is a great reference of Haitian music which has just passed away. The country and Haitian youth have lost a beautiful soul“, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry tweeted on Sunday.
Born in Port-au-Prince in 1981, the son of singer Lionel Benjamin was a singer, composer and producer. Mikaben had performed several hit songs with the band Carimi, including Baby I Missed You Where Fanm sa Move.
After the announcement of his death, the reactions also ignited social networks. International star Wyclef Jean paid tribute to the singer and regretted that he was “left too early” in a message posted on Twitter. Former Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Henry Céant praised “one of the most talented jewels of his generation of artists“.
Rest In Peace King @mikaben Gone too soon #Haiti pic.twitter.com/9pZXum61PS
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) October 15, 2022
In Port-au-Prince, singer Tamara Suffren felt that this death was “a blow to the country“, Mikaben being part of the “inheritance“from Haiti. This Carimi reunion concert in Paris”presented itself as the highlight of the year and even of the history of Haitian music“, underlined Frantz Duval, editor-in-chief of the daily Le Nouvelliste and editor of Ticket Magazine. In dying on stage, Michael Benjamin”go down in history. Mika gave everything to music“, he added.
Organized on two dates, October 15 and 16, 2022, the first day of the Caribbean Culture Festival was held in halftone. Artists, organizers and audience were all in shock at the sudden disappearance of singer Mikaben. (1/3)
: @jjeantyaugustin pic.twitter.com/R4LzNmlMEF
— TICKET MAGAZINE (@TICKETmaghaiti) October 16, 2022