Mikaben.Photo: Jack Vartoogian/Getty
Haitian singer Mikaben has died after he collapsed on stage while performing in Paris this weekend. He was 41.
The musician, whose real name is Michael Benjamin, was performing with the Haitian konpa group CaRiMi at the Accor Arena on Saturday night when he fell ill on stage, the venuesaid in a statement sharedon Twitter.
Though emergency medical service was provided, Benjamin died after collapsing in front of the audience. Video shared to social media shows the music stop abruptly after Benjamin turns mid-performance and attempts to make his way off stage, then falls.
Benjamin may have suffered a heart attack or cardiac arrest,The Guardianreported.
The singer’s pregnant wife Vanessa Fanfan shared her grief on Instagram shortly after Benjamin’s death, writing, “I lost my other half and I have no words.”
“Oh [my God], Heavenly Father, I know you don’t make mistakes and you won’t give us what we can’t [bear] but…this pain is very heavy,” she wrote in a second post. “Help me please oh merciful Lord.”
A third post showed the couple dancing together in their kitchen alongside the caption: “My sweet love, How did God manage to be without you for 41 years????”
Benjamin and Fanfan were married in November 2020, according to theMiami Herald, and shared 16-month-old daughterLeïa. Their second child is due in December, while Benjamin was also dad to sonGabrielfrom a previous relationship.
The musician had shared a video message to his Instagram Story shortly before Saturday’s performance in which he expressed his excitement at playing with CaRiMi.
“Yo yo yo, what’s good, my people? I’m out here in Accor Arena, Paris,” he said in theclip, which was later shared on Twitter. “Today’s the big day. It’s gon' be crazy. CaRiMi, they’re on fire on stage.”
Singer Roberto Martino told theHeraldthat Benjamin “was so happy” and “couldn’t wait to get on that stage with CaRiMi.”
“It was one of his biggest accomplishments in life. It’s a band that he idolized. I’m at a loss for words. I’m broken,” Martino said. “Mika was one of the most talented artists that I had ever met in my life. One of the most humble guys; you never heard him being mad or cursing at anybody. It’s just sad; unbelievable.”
Benjamin was the son of singer Lionel Benjamin, and was a singer, composer and producer who sang in Creole, French, English and Spanish. He went to college in Montreal, Canada and later performed for several years with his cousin in the konpa group Krezi Mizik, according to theHerald. He went solo in 2009.
“Yo, listen,” Wyclef told Benjamin in the clip. “One of the most talented young men, period, that i’ve known in my life. Him right here, real deal. King.”
The Fugees musician also told theHeraldthat the loss “is a shock,” and that he would remember Benjamin for his smile.
“The country and the Haitian youth have lost a beautiful soul,” Henry wrote. “I extend my condolences to his family, his friends and the music community as a whole.”
source: people.com
