The singer Mikaben is dead. He died during a performance with his band Carimi in Paris. Mikaben was only 41 years old Photo: picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com
From the BZ editorial team
Dramatic scenes on a concert evening that ended in tragedy.
Haitian singer Mikaben collapsed and died on stage in the middle of his show in Paris on Saturday night. As the concert organizer announced on Twitter, the emergency services could not have done anything for the 41-year-old. The concert took place in front of 10,000 fans at the Accor Arena.
Fan videos show the singer stopping mid-song and taking a few steps toward the back of the stage. Suddenly Mikaben collapses. At first his band continues to play a few more bars, then the musicians notice that something is wrong and rush to their friend’s help.
Mikaben (real name Michael Benjamin) had performed together with his Haitian band Carimi. His pregnant wife Vanessa said she had “lost her other half” and was “speechless”.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry tweeted that he was “shocked by the sudden death of a young and very talented artist”. Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean (Fugees) called Mikaben “one of the most influential and inspiring young artists of our generation” in an interview with The Miami Herald.
Mikaben, son of the well-known singer Lionel Benjamin, was born in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince in 1981 and has worked as a singer and producer, among other things. He has appeared on several hits by the band Carimi, including “Baby I Missed You” and “Fanm sa Move”.