Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly – President of Haiti
Haiti was the first independent nation in Latin America, following an 1804 slave revolt. Sadly, it is also the poorest country in the Americas. It occupies the other half of the island of Hispaniola, alongside the Dominican Republic.
The 2011 Haitian general election made news overseas when former Fugee, Wyclef Jean, announced his intention to run for president as the aftershocks of the devastating 2010 earthquake were still being felt in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The New Jersey hip hop artist speaks neither French nor Creole, the two main languages of the island, but he does consider himself Haitian.
The eventual winner actually appeared on the 1997 album Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival featuring the Refugee Allstars. Step forward Michel Martelly (in his underpants). Surprisingly, Martelly is also a musician, performing as Sweet Micky. His shows are reputedly riddled with expletives, but he also speaks the national language, suggesting he may be the better suited artist to front the beleaguered nation. To date, neither Funkmaster Flex nor DJ Skribble have announced their intention to run for President, despite also appearing on Wyclef Jean’s landmark album.
Michel Martelly ought to lift the spirits of the other World Leaders he now joins with his saucy songs. Here he is live at the Zanzibar nightclub in Washington, presumably letting off steam after his diplomatic duties.
