Haiti

Benoit D’Afrique

Poetry

Benoit D’Afrique, whose real name is Benoit Carl Withsler, is a young Haitian poet and photographer.

Residency

At the end of his writing residency at La Centrale 22, an original text from his pen will be published on the website, and a poetry evening (recital) will conclude the residency.

Biography

He is the author of the poetry collection L’enfant n’est pas mort published by Z4 Editions, a writing workshop facilitator, and a contributor to several literary magazines. He received the International Prize for Poetry in Freedom in 2016 for his text titled Ma mort, published by Bruno Doucey. He is considered one of the resilient voices of the new Haitian literary wave and his generation.

A nomad, a misunderstood dreamer. Orphaned of his mother, he experienced paternal abandonment at an early age. Benoit D’Afrique fits into the register of a melancholic poet who escapes through the esotericism of expressions hidden in the drawer of the alphabet. For several years, he became singularly known in Gonaïves, his hometown, with numerous recital performances.

In 2017, he joined the Regroupement des Poètes Francophones Engagés pour la Liberté (Group of Committed Francophone Poets for Freedom) to collaborate with poetry enthusiasts from different nationalities on topics that should stir the conscience of the human race. In 2019, he joined the editorial board of the Sorbonne’s literary magazine L’Éclectique and created the column Pro’sie, a section exclusively dedicated to Haitian literary and artistic creations. The young poet from Gonaïves continues his journey in France, carrying his endurance and creativity into solitude.

Works
L’enfant n’est pas mort, Z4 Editions