(New York) Whether they hail him as the crooner, the actor or the equality activist, many personalities from the arts and entertainment paid tribute on Tuesday to the legendary Harry Belafonte, who died in New York at the 96 years old.
He was “one of the greatest singers in the United States. He was very handsome, with great class, a very nice relaxed look, crazy charisma and a magnificent voice, “line Renaud told AFP, remembering with emotion the time, in the early 70s, when she had hired Harry Belafonte when she was a show programmer in Las Vegas.
Another artist to have worked closely with the late singer, during tours of the United States and Canada in 1964 and 1965, Nana Mouskouri spoke of a “magnificent singer, a great interpreter, a great master of the stage and a great teacher. “.
The crooner bathed in Caribbean influences, a great civil rights activist, “inspired humanity, love and justice”, estimated the Greek polyglot singer.
Franco-Beninese musician Angélique Kidjo paid tribute to “the brightest of stars”. “Your passion, love, knowledge and respect for Africa was boundless and unmatched,” she said.
Another singer born in Africa – him in Burundi – Gaël Faye, who had collaborated on one of his albums with Harry Belafonte, remembered the latter’s commitment: “He was an artist, but much more than that. He met Martin Luther King: you don’t realize how important he was in the civil rights movement.”
For rapper Ice Cube, Harry Belafonte “was more than a singer, more than an actor and more than a man”. Director Spike Lee, for his part, regretted the loss of a “giant”.
Even the UN joined in the chorus of praise, through the voice of Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson. Harry Belafonte “was a courageous civil rights activist and a leading voice in the fight against apartheid, the fight against AIDS and efforts to eradicate poverty”, listed Stéphane Dujarric.
The praise also came from the political sphere and even from the sports world.
“He used his fame and fortune for the public good,” US President Joe Biden said. “His fervent advocacy, compassion and respect for human dignity will live on.”
“Singer, actor, activist, philanthropist, great figure and more, Harry Belafonte paved the way for so many black performers in the entertainment business,” responded American basketball legend Magic Johnson.