Haitian diva to perform for Festival Kreol |24 October 2013

Mellow jazz with a soulful sound is how many have described Emeline Michel’s singing. Soon the Seychellois public and all coming from the World of Creoles will have the chance to sample what the amazing vocalist from Haiti has to offer during this year’s Festival Kreol.

The well known Haitian songstress is among many other Creole artists who have confirmed their participation in the 28th Festival Kreol. This an annual event held in Victoria, the Creole Capital of the World, to celebrate the diversity and flamboyant and unique Creole culture. Artists from the neighbouring islands of La Reunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues, as well as from Martinique in the Caribbean will also be joining their Seychellois peers at this year’s Festival Kreol in Victoria.

Emeline’s earlier release ‘Flanm’ has been played on the local airwaves over the years – making her no stranger to the Seychellois public.

An accomplished international singer, songwriter, composer and amazing dancer, Emeline was born in 1966 in Gonaives, a city in Northern Haiti. Before hitting the secular music scene, the youngster started out by singing in church. She left her hometown to pursue her secondary education in Port-au-Prince. Almost immediately after moving to the capital, Emeline was discovered and within a couple of months she released her first single, Akai Kao.

After completing high school, Emeline received a scholarship to study music at the Detroit Jazz Center in the United States upon winning a talent contest. She received her bachelor in music studies, then returned to Haiti as a professional musician, and established herself as one of the top artists in Haiti, touring much of the Caribbean. The newest sensation of Creole music became an icon, and her appearance was in high demand in numerous jazz festivals all over the world, including Canada, France and the United States of America.

However, not content with only being a singer, Emeline has also used her music to speak for the ordinary Haitian. It was no surprise when former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, chose Emeline as the headline performer for his 2006 Clinton Global Initiative in NY City, an event gathering over 2000 world's leaders, presidents, famous thinkers and prominent dignitaries.