BIOGRAPHY
Mikaben (Michael Benjamin) was born in 1981 in Port-au-Prince, Haïti. Son of the well-known singer Lionel Benjamin, Mikaben is brought up in a musical environment, and is at a very early age, introduced to the piano, guitar, bass, and later, the drums. At age 15, Mikaben writes his first song, and passionate about music, continues to write music while in college in Canada in 1999. From Montreal, Mikaben enters an annual Christmas song contest organized by "TELEMAX", a Haitian television station, and his song "Nwèl Tristès" (Sad Christmas), in fourth position, wins him the hearts of the Haitian public. From this big success, Mikaben decides to focus on his musical carrier and records his first solo album "VWAYAJ" (which means Journey in creole) in Marco Volcy’s studio in Montreal. The album is realeased in December 2000 and his song « Ou Pati », doesn't go unnoticed by producer Fabrice Rouzier who includes it in the « Haïti Troubatour » project (70.000 copies sold with the help of Mikaben's hit song), which propells Mikaben’s carreer beyond Haiti and introduces him in the Antilles, Europe and Africa.
Michael Benjamin
In May 2004, Mikaben releases his second album "MIKA" which opens doors for him especially in Canada where he participates in many festivals such as « les Francofolies de Montréal ». Back in Haïti in March 2005, Mikaben forms the Konpa group "KREZI MIZIK" with his cousin David Dupoux, and puts his Solo career on the back burner. Mikaben releases 2 albums with the group "AYITI SAN MANTI" (a studio album and a live version), and tours within the United States, Canada, the Antilles, France, and Belgium. His involvement in KREZI though doesn’t keep him from satisfying his fans with solo gigs such as « Mikaben and friends ». In June 2009, Mikaben decides to dedicate himself to his Solo career, and departs from the group as lead vocal in september 2009. Since then, while touring, he has been working on finishing his third album which he plans to release sometime in the near future. Today, Mikaben also works as a producer with several artists and bands such as Carimi for who he produces the hit "Fanm sa move", T-Vice with "Fe m vole" and Kreyol La "Y'ap fe foli" amongst others.
