Tables well arranged in the courtyard of Tara’s, the public (women, men and children) which gradually comes to its 31st and takes its place, the well-arranged stage which asks only to be trodden by the many artists scheduled on the program, this Thursday evening, the stage is set at Laboule 12 for an evening like no other. The tribute evening dedicated to singer, composer and arranger Lionel Benjamin, whose 75th anniversary this year marks his half-century of career in music too.
It is 8:30 am when Daniel Marcelin and Laurence Girault, the two hosts of the gala, greet the public, silence the whispers and invite the small audience to enjoy a documentary on the life of the chosen one tonight. Thus begins the night devoted to Papi Lion, telling himself the stages of his journey and some other personalities testifying, them too, of the paths traveled by the former Haitian music host and professor at the Faculty of Medicine. Marie Laurence Jocelyn Lassègue, Richard Widmaier, among others.
A few minutes later, to the applause of the audience, Lionel Benjamin, white jacket and shirt matching black pants, appeared on the podium alongside the singers Thamar Joseph (long strapless red dress), Tamara Suffren (green dress cut out on the thigh) and Stanley Georges (black suit). While under a shower of fireworks, the lights come on on this quartet performing “Christmas, that’s it”. This performance will set the tone for a host of others whose sound glitches do not touch the quality of a show like this, bringing together more than twenty stars.
Thanks to artists of different musical styles, the performances are raining down and are not alike. It is saying little. Konpa du, salsa, reggae, root, rap combine with dance to offer a bouquet of tributes made of Christmas songs to the dimension of Lionel’s 50 years of music. A singer to whom the talents of an interpreter were revealed as if by chance. A chance that now lasts more than half a century. A chance having given birth to 30 titles on Christmas and which earned him the title of Haitian Santa Claus.
Renette Désir, Rebel Layonn, Kenny Desmagles, Kenny Haiti, Jean Jean Roosevelt, Harmonik, Rutshelle Guillaume, Misty Jean, James Germain, Erol Josué, Carole Demesmin, Lòlò, Paul Beaubrun, Naïka Richard, BIC, T-Jo Zenny, Roody Man , Sasha Rouzier, Wanito, Mandela Jean-Francois, Polo, Gazzman, Mikaben, Mélodie, Gaby, Noah, the Jean René Delsoin dance school, Tyna Belance, Paska, Platel Jean Wibert, Carlito, Jean Garmel Buteau, among others. All of them have linked their voices, in most of the performances, to that of Lionel Benjamin on songs such as: “Christmas at last”, “When you will see this star”, “Sa w pote pou mwen? “,” Tonton Nwèl tounen “,” Jwaye Nwèl tout moun “,” Nwèl nou kontan w rive “,” Viv Nwèl “,” Christmas is not the time of sorrows “,” Anbago Nwèl “,” Nwèl entènasyonal “, “Beny chans” and others.
Before the evening draws to a close on the hit “Abdenwèl” with all the artists meeting on the stage. Before the whole Benjamin family wins the podium and two of Papa Benjamin’s grandsons read a plaque of honor dedicated to this icon of Haitian music.
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