Néhémie Bastien: Haitian Artists Are Alive and Want to Stay Alive

Haitian actress, singer, and comedian Néhémie Bastien traveled to France to participate in the Les Turennales festival in Turenne, Corrèze, where she presented musical and literary creations. In an interview with RFI's Olivier Rogez, she discussed the challenges of being an artist in Haiti amid the current crisis. Bastien emphasized that despite difficulties, artists continue to work and create, as "people count on us." She mentioned her writing club Atemo in Haiti, where artists meet to work on texts and organize theater performances. She noted that while some theaters have closed, artists "cannot close their hearts to art." In May, she performed her show "Légère," about a strong woman who persists despite criticism, and it drew a large audience. She also performed as a comedian to a full house. Bastien addressed humor in Haiti, saying people "laugh at everything" as a way to adapt. At the festival, she read from René Depestre's "Alléluia pour une femme jardin," chosen for its themes of love, politics, and nature. She plans to work on a new album upon returning to Haiti. The interview was published on August 12, 2026, on RFI.