This Monday, October 17 (day of commemoration of the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, father of Haitian independence and first emperor of Haiti under the name of Jacques I), two days after the sudden death of Michaël Benjamin (June 27, 1981 – October 15, 2022), his fans came to pay tribute to him at the Accor Arena.
It is an initiative of a group of Haitian nationals living in France, among them François Ritchy Cyprien and Marie Michelle Legrand, who put out this call on social networks. The Accor Arena then put a place – Lodges & Lounges, doors 35-36 – at the disposal of all these fans who are still very shocked by the “live death” (almost) of Mikaben, this legend of Haitian music.
This Tuesday, October 18, many fans were still gathered at this place decorated with photos of Michaël Benjamin and Haitian flags, having brought flowers, candles and letters to express their admiration. The singer’s music was played in the background. For one week, this place of remembrance will be open to the public.
We also learned that the phone line of Kisqueya Nature Bijoux, an associative, solidarity and fair trade shop, run by Marie Michelle Legrand, which helps street children in Cité Soleil near to Port-au-Prince, has become a psychological cell for all inconsolable fans of Mikaben.
According to presslakay.net, some Haitians, including a group of lawyers, claim that this is a “suspicious death” and an autopsy of the deceased’s body must be requested from France before his repatriation to his country.
The Human Rights Office in Haiti reportedly stated : “(…) We ask the French prosecutors to carry out an autopsy as soon as possible, because the family of the deceased and the population must know the circumstances in which the artist died”, wrote our colleague. We were unable to reach the organization.
