The Ministry of Culture salutes the memory of African-American singer, actor and human rights activist Harry Belafonte, who died on April 24, 2023 at the age of 96 followed a heart failure.

Harry Belafonte was very well known in Haiti in the 1950s and 1960s thanks to his interpretations of popular Caribbean songs including Haitian titles like "Souvenir d'Haiti" (Haiti darling) and "Angélique ô" which he greatly contributed to making known . He was considered the king of Calypso.

Even today, Belafonte's interpretations delight Haitian music lovers and remain references.

Harry Belafonte had actively supported the civil rights movement alongside Martin Luther King Jr during the 1950s and 1960s. his accomplice (1972) with Sydney Poitiers, White man (1885) with John Travolta, Beetlejuice (1988) directed by Tim Burton and Bobby (2006) which recounted the assassination of Robert Kennedy.

The Ministry, on behalf of the Government and the Haitian people, pays tribute to this immense character who has contributed to internationalizing Haitian folklore and certain standards of Haitian music.

IH/ iciHaiti