In Memoriam: Fallen Stars of 2022
Wyclef Jean is mourning the death of Haitian singer Mikaben.
The three-time Grammy winner, who was besides calved successful Haiti, paid tribute to the precocious creator pursuing his abrupt decease during a amusement successful France connected Oct. 15.
"Rest In Peace King @mikaben," helium tweeted Oct. 15 alongside a video of the 2 musicians from earlier this year. "Gone excessively soon #Haiti."
In the footage, Jean, 53, could beryllium seen praising Mikaben. "Yo listen," he said. "One of the astir talented young men play that I've known successful my life. Him, close here, existent deal."
The clip appeared to beryllium from Michaël Brun's New York BAYO Tour halt successful May, wherever Mikaben and Jean had joined the DJ onstage for a star-studded night. Jean looked backmost astatine that clip during an Oct. 17 interrogation with the Miami Herald.
"All I could retrieve was his smile," helium told the work astir Mikaben, remembering however helium enactment his limb astir him and said, "This is 1 of the astir influential and inspirational young artists of our generation."
Brun besides honored Mikaben with a message connected Instagram. "Mika was a 1 of a benignant creator and performer," helium wrote Oct. 15. "His beingness connected signifier was magnetic. He brought truthful overmuch emotion and passionateness to his creation and cared profoundly astir his family, friends and Haiti. I'm truthful grateful for his relationship and kindness. Love you my member and RIP. As a assemblage let's delight enactment his wife, children and family."
Rest In Peace King @mikaben Gone excessively soon #haiti pic.twitter.com/9pZXum61PS
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) October 15, 2022Mikaben, besides known as Michael Benjamin, died astatine property 41 aft collapsing onstage during an Oct. 15 Carimi concert successful France. A origin of decease has yet to beryllium revealed.
The Paris-based performance venue Accor Arena, wherever helium had been performing, expressed their condolences successful an Oct. 16 tweet.
"Last nighttime during the Carimi concert, 1 of the singers, Michael Benjamin, Mikaben of his creator sanction died pursuing a malaise connected signifier and contempt the involution of the exigency services," the tweet read. "The full Accor Arena squad is terribly affected and sends each its enactment to his household and loved ones successful this achy ordeal. Our thoughts besides spell to Claude Cyndecki, his producer, arsenic good arsenic to his fans, shocked by this abrupt disappearance."
Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images
Mikaben—who released songs similar "Marry Me" and "Upside Down" during his lifetime—was married to Vanessa Benjamin and was dada to son Gabriel Benjamin and daughter Leïa Benjamin. In August, the mates announced that Vanessa is pregnant.
Vanessa paid tribute to Mikaben successful an Oct. 17 Instagram video that showed throwback footage of them dancing. "My saccharine love," she captioned the footage. "How did God negociate to beryllium without you for 41years????? @mikaben509."
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