HMI Honors

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters of Haitian culture—lend me your ears…

Let us honor a man whose voice has crossed oceans, whose rhythm has shaken souls, and whose message still burns like sacred fire—Toto Nécessité, a true son of Haiti, a warrior of sound, and a keeper of the ancestral flame.

This is not just a singer we're speaking of. No—Toto Nécessité is a vessel. A vessel for the pain of the people, for the dignity of Ginen, for the drumbeat of Boukman, Dessalines, and the millions who refused to kneel. When Toto sings, he doesn’t just perform—he testifies.

Born out of the earth of this island, Toto became one of the defining voices of "mizik rasin"—that fiery blend of Vodou rhythm, rebellion, and truth. He did not chase commercial fame. No. He chose something greater: to awaken consciousness, to speak to the spirit, and to move the feet of a sleeping nation.

With bands like Soley Leve and his solo projects, Toto delivered music that was raw, real, and revolutionary. His voice is gravel and thunder—heavy with struggle, yet bright with hope. His words chant of identity, resistance, and healing. His presence on stage is not of this world—he becomes the rhythm, the lwa, the flame.

Let us remember the songs.
Let us remember "Soley Leve", a call for rebirth.
Let us feel "Mizè M'Pa Ka Ankò", where every note is a cry for the forgotten.
Let us chant "Rasanbleman", the anthem of unity, the soundtrack of awakening.
Let us hold dear "Ayiti Pa Forè", a reminder that this land is no wilderness—it is sacred, alive, and rooted in history.

And above all, let us remember the mission of Toto Nécessité:

• To reclaim Vodou not as superstition, but as wisdom.
• To uplift the masses with rhythm, not rhetoric.
• To restore Haitian pride, not with empty slogans, but with sound that touches bone.

His music is protest.
His music is prayer.
His music is prophecy.

So today, let us say with one voice—Toto Nécessité deserves his flowers while he walks among us. A Hall of Fame without his name is no hall at all. He is one of our living griots, our rhythm warriors, our soul messengers.

Bay lwanj pou Toto. Kenbe flanm nan limen. Nou se Ginen.