Popular Haitian musician, Michael Benjamin, popularly known as Mikaben, has died on stage in front of a large crowd.
Newsbreak.ng reports that the incident happened last Saturday when the 41-year-old was singing on stage in Paris, France, with the Haitian konpa band CaRiMi.
The incident escalated when fellow performers could see something was wrong and stopped the show, telling fans to clear out.
In a clip that surfaced on social media, Mikaben finished his set and was walking off the stage when he suddenly dropped in front of thousands of fans and died.
Other videos have surfaced on social media showing Mikaben looking very much alive minutes before as he gets the crowd rocking and singing along with him.
He was reportedly administered Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) but later died.
Mikaben was a respected singer, guitarist, composer, and producer whose hit song Ayti Se went global in the aftermath of Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake.
He has a daughter and another child on the way with his wife Vanessa Fanfan.
He also leaves behind a son from a previous relationship.
Rapper Wyclef Jean was one of many who is reeling from the news of Mikaben’s sudden demise.
“This is a shock,” Wyclef Jean told the Miami Herald.
“I’m in disbelief,” singer Roberto Martino told the outlet.
“This is somebody I was working with for years and considered a brother, a good friend. We talked almost every day. We have a chat together.”
The widow, Vanessa, has since posted a message thanking everyone for their prayers but pleading for privacy, Entertainment Tonight noted.
“I’m in no condition to talk,” Vanessa wrote. “I lost my other half and have no words.”
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