Overview:
Carimi made historical past at UBS Enviornment, performing to a full home in one of many few instances a Haitian band has performed in a U.S. area. The live performance celebrated their legacy with highly effective performances, heartfelt tributes, and hints at extra concert events to come back.
By William Farrington et The Haitian Instances
On Dec. 27, Carimi turned one of many first Haitian bands to headline a significant U.S. area, delivering a sold-out efficiency on the UBS Enviornment in Elmont, NY. The highly-anticipated reunion live performance celebrated the band’s legacy, with hints of extra reveals in 2025.
“Please keep tuned… be looking out for the subsequent Carimi date,” the band instructed followers throughout the present.
The almost two-and-a-half-hour present introduced collectively 1000’s of followers and featured performances of Carimi’s biggest hits and a mixture of solo renditions from band members. Richard Cavé was joined by Tina Ly for his or her duet hit “À Tes Côtés,” whereas Mickael Guirand carried out alongside Shabba Ekip.
A celebration of unity
The live performance was about greater than music; it was a press release of reconciliation and unity. Chatting with The Haitian Instances, Guirand mirrored on the importance of the occasion, notably given Haiti’s ongoing challenges.
“Every thing that’s occurring with the nation, Haiti—all of the detrimental photos—it’s good and refreshing to place a undertaking collectively the place former bandmates, former mates, put every thing apart and are available again collectively,” he mentioned.
Cavé echoed these sentiments.
“It’s unity,” Cavé mentioned to The Haitian Instances. “It’s permitting individuals to grasp that each of us left our enterprise to come back right here to do one thing greater.”
Tribute to Mikaben
A poignant second throughout the night was a tribute to Michael “Mikaben” Benjamin, thought-about an unofficial fourth member of the band. Mikaben died abruptly in 2022 after collapsing on stage.
Particular visitors Roberto Martino of T-Vice and Tjo Zenny of Kreyol La joined the band for the tribute. Followers lit up the sector with their cell telephones, making a solemn but celebratory environment because the band carried out in his honor.
“On this very second, I understood why it was so necessary for me to be at that live performance,” Vanessa Benjamin, Mikaben’s widow, wrote on Instagram.
“It gave me the prospect to listen to my husband carry out yet one more time—Despite the fact that I couldn’t cease crying from feeling so overwhelmed, it took me nearly a half hour to assemble myself and regain management of my feelings. For a short second, it felt like he was with me once more, and for that, I’m eternally grateful. Thanks, Carimi, for giving him again to me, if just for a cut up second.”
She additionally thanked strangers and family members who supported her that night: “This expertise will stick with me without end.”
Carimi’s lasting legacy
Carimi’s story started in 2001 with their keyboard-driven sound that infused Konpa with new power.
The discharge of Bang Bang that yr turned them into stars nearly in a single day, capturing a large following within the Haitian music scene. The band went on to launch eight albums, together with dwell hits, culminating with Invasion in 2013 and the dwell album Kite’m Cho in 2015.
After disbanding in 2016, Carimi’s return has reignited enthusiasm amongst followers. The UBS Enviornment live performance underscored their enduring affect, not solely in Haitian music but additionally as cultural ambassadors for Haiti’s diaspora.
With Friday night time’s historic live performance, Carimi not solely reignited the fervour of their followers but additionally left them eagerly awaiting the subsequent chapter.
