Wyclef, Akon Put A Spotlight On Haiti’s Suffering And Beauty At Yele Festival
December 15, 2007 - Capital square, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Haiti’s most famous diplomat was very busy over the weekend in his native country. Wyclef Jean co-headlined the first Yele Festival with Akon; the event was the brainchild of the two recording artists and manager Jimmy “Henchman” Rosemond.
The two-day event included a tour of Haiti for journalists on Friday and a concert fundraiser Saturday.
“We cater to the press, answering questions, visiting the children’s prisons [in Port-au-Prince], the schools,” Rosemond said Friday. ” … There’s not too much stuff to do in Haiti. For it to be a two-day event is even big in itself. We’re trying to do something with Yele like how [Reggae] Sunsplash was for Jamaica. This will be a yearly event. In between, we’ll have smaller shows and cap off every year around this time with some of the biggest artists in the world.”
The Haitian-born Wyclef made a deal that he would perform in Senegal (Akon was born in St. Louis but raised in Senegal) sometime next year in return for ‘Kon performing in his homeland.
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:56 am
I’m living in Haiti and was at this concert. Akon dominated most of the stage time and the crowd was feeling it. Lots of people were worried about ’security issues,’ but the people came out for a show and it seemed like they were taking it seriously to show the world they could get it done peacefully. I’d like to know the official headcount - I’d say 60 or 70 thousand, maybe more? Anyone know?
January 6th, 2008 at 2:36 am
Wyclef everytime I hear ur name or songs I feel that My beautiful Haiti will never die whenever, wherever, however.Hey Wyclef we love Haiti forever.Keep doing good thing for Little Haiti Because we have to save Haiti’s life.Haiti will never get hurt if u protect it like dat forever.We need Haiti in our futures.For me u are the president of Haiti because u are the most important person that we need In Ayiti. yele Haiti se yele wyclef…Haiti is for Wyclef….
January 6th, 2008 at 2:45 am
My Dear Wyclef Jean.Every time I hear ur last name I feel happy bcz we have same last name.I wanna thanks U for everything u did for my beautiful Haiti. I like the way that u use to make Haiti very popular.we will never sell Haiti for another country house.I hope that u will be a president of haiti.I don’t care what people say I want you to be president of haiti in 2011..God bless U and Haiti for the rest of ur life.Take care…
January 6th, 2008 at 2:56 am
that’s along time ago Haiti was waiting for someone like u.Haiti is benefit on U, Haiti still alive because of you without u it will die.Haiti is you. we are Haiti.I like Haiti with all my heart but I cannot do anything for haiti rightnow but I’m working on it now by going to school every day never cut school bcz I wanna save Haiti.I don’t anything to give for all of all things U did for Haiti but God will pay u for that.yele haiti se nou. an nou kenbe men pou haiti ka viv pou lontan….
January 6th, 2008 at 3:06 am
whenever, wherever, However whoever, whichever anywhere whyever We will always fight for our country.this is our country we surpose to save it. Richardson Jean nd Wyclef Jean are brother forever…..
January 6th, 2008 at 3:12 am
Africa is Haiti.Haiti is Africa.Akon is
wyclef.Wyclef is Akon. we are brothers. Africa and Haiti almost have same cultures.So do good things for Haiti and Africa….