On May 16th, 2009, the town of Milot located in Northern Haiti was the site of the official launch of the AIDS Candlelight Memorial, international event which has previously occurred three times in the U.S. and once in Malawi. This inauguration was to take place on a podium decorated with an enormous candle with red ribbons, installed on the forecourt of the Sans Souci Palace, historic monument set like a precious jewel in a lush and mountainous nature, which remains an impressive and eloquent vestige of our ancestors’ splendor and creative genius.
The beginning of the ceremony was scheduled for 5:00 pm and a large crowd had made the trip: local residents, members and partners of the POZ Foundation, local and foreign personalities, the Prime Minister and other Officials of the Haitian Government. However, the sky was gloomy and rather worrisome, many gray clouds were becoming more threatening; the violent onset of heavy and partial rains demobilized the assistance who tried its best to shelter. The rain redoubled in intensity and was accompanied by violent thunder. The team members of Essence Haiti, PDG Communications, responsible for the show’s logistics did respond to the fury of elements with great ingenuity; the spectators quickly used plastic bags as raincoats or covers to protect their seats...
Faced with such raging, the authorities decided to evacuate. Shortly after, rumors of cancellation of the event, relayed by the media, spread to the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The two hours of torrential rains could not shake the determination of Yole Dérose Productions responsible for the conception and realization of the artistic and cultural part of the aids memorial. Demonstrating a professionalism to any event, Yole Dérose, Daniel Marcelin, Jean-René Delsoin, the technicians, the team of "Musique des Antilles" on the site for more than ten days before the show, the artists, everyone yoked together to reconnect the equipments, dry the stage’s floor with makeshift, and put a finishing touch to makeup and costumes. The commotion attracted the public who had fled rain and quickly, a dense crowd invaded the esplanade.
At 8:00 pm, the artists were ready, and the show began with "Blakawout", composition of Eddy Francois, danced by four members of the “Jean-René Delsoin Company” whose brilliant performance once and for all grabbed the public’s attention. Then, a chorus composed of three talented singers Renette Désir, Nadège Dugravil and Esther Delère, announced the official opening by singing a verse of “La Dessalinienne” in French and Creole. This interpretation of our national anthem by female voices augured an unusual evening under the sky of the town of Milot studded with twinkling stars.
The voice of Smoye Noisy, strong and impressive, reinstated this event in its context, and then Reginald Lubin immediately took the stage to welcome all those who were present despite the rain and gave a brief historic of the celebration of the AIDS Memorial Candle.
The voice of Fritzlaine Thézan chained into a tribute to the victims of AIDS and concluded with a hopeful note: the celebration of life. Dancers of the “Jean-René Delsoin Company” performed mimes to the song “Soufle Van", folk theme played with brio by the female chorus. The three singers came on stage to sing a challenging and catchy composition for reforestation «An nou plante pye bwa», followed by the slogan "Ansanm nou se solisyon an”.
Then arrived on the stage Emeline Michel, great lady of Haitian song. She welcomed and thanked the public of Milot, who was not intimidated by the rain. She sang songs that were illustrated with choreographies performed by dancers of the JRD Company, dressed by stylists Maëlle David and David André. Once again, Emeline has proven her professionalism and her perfect mastery of the scene while being part of the gala night orchestrated by Yole Dérose, after several weeks of preparation with musicians and other artists participating. She was warmly welcomed by the audience after performing, as usual, with her heart and her guts.
