The world music is in shock. Haitian singer Mikaben, real name Michael Benjamin, collapsed on stage this Saturday evening, October 15, at the Accor Aréna de Bercy in Paris. He suffered a heart attack, could not be revived and died at the age of 41.
This was to be the reunion concert. Six years after their separation, the members of Carimi go back on stage to celebrate the twenty years of the legendary Haitian group. Among them, the singer Mikaben, a young forty-year-old and versatile artist.
First song at 15
Born in 1981 in Port-au-Prince, this son of singer Lionel Benjamin, wrote his first song at 15 years old. He revealed himself to the general public from a Christmas competition and dabbles in everything: piano, guitar, bass and drums. Called Mika, then Mikaben, he founded the group Krézi Mizik and participated in Carimi's successes with "Buzz" or "Baby" in 2009 and "I miss you" in 2013.
Full house
The Accor Arena in Bercy was full this Saturday evening, a first for a Haitian group in Paris, but the concert turned tragic. While he had just performed his hit "Ou Pati", Mikaben became unwell and died of cardiac arrest. In his last tweet the same day, he again pays tribute to the three Carimi stars by thanking them for paving the way for others.