Haitians paid tribute to musician Mikaben on Sunday, who died the night before at a concert in Paris, leaving his country in shock. The 41-year-old recording artist, whose real name is Michael Benjamin, collapsed as he made his way off stage after suffering a suspected heart attack during a concert Saturday.
He was performing as a guest of the Haitian group Carimi at the 20,000-capacity Accor Arena in eastern Paris. The venue stated on Twitter that he “died after suffering a seizure on stage and despite the efforts of medical responders.”
Videos on social media show him performing before abruptly turning and walking to the back of the stage. He collapses in full view of the audience, the music stops, and medics are summoned.
After his passing, tributes came in from all around Haiti, with radio stations and venues playing his songs on repeat starting Saturday night. “I’m shocked by the unexpected death of the young and very brilliant artist Michael Benjamin ‘Mikaben,'” Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry tweeted.
“We have lost a significant figure in Haitian music.” In an interview with The Miami Herald newspaper, Haiti-born musician Wyclef Jean of the hip-hop group the Fugees dubbed him “one of the most important and motivating young artists of our generation.”
“Rest in peace,” he wrote in a Twitter tribute, which included a video of him with Mikan. “Too soon gone.” On Twitter, former Haitian president Jean Henry Ceant praised Mikaben as “one of the most outstanding artists of his time.”
Tamara Suffren, a musician, claimed his death was a “blow to the country” in a special broadcast by Magik9 radio, referring to the state’s escalating security and health concerns. Mikan, the son of legendary musician Lionel Benjamin, was born in the Haitian city of Port-au-Prince in 1981 and rose to prominence in the local music industry as a singer, songwriter, and producer.
He appeared in a number of Carimi singles, including “Baby I Missed You” and “Fanm Sa Move.” On Saturday, before the show, he shared a video to his more than one million Instagram followers from inside the Accor Arena, smiling and thanking fans.
Vanessa, his expectant wife, sent a statement thanking people for their prayers but requesting privacy. “I’m not in a position to speak. I’ve lost my other half and am at a loss for words “She penned a letter.
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