Franck Etienne- Franketienne (Haitian, b.1936-2025)

Frankétienne, born Franck Étienne on April 12, 1936, in Ravine-Sèche, Haiti, passed away on February 20, 2025. He was a multifaceted Haitian writer, poet, playwright, painter, musician, activist, and intellectual. Abandoned by his father, a wealthy American industrialist, at a young age, he was raised by his mother in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She worked as a street merchant to support her eight children and managed to send her eldest son, Frankétienne, to school. Recognized as one of Haiti's leading writers and playwrights in both French and Haitian Creole, he is often referred to as the "father of Haitian letters." As a painter, he is known for his vibrant abstract works, frequently featuring shades of blue and red. In 2009, he was a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and in 2010, he was honored as a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Order of the Arts and Letters) and named a UNESCO Artist for Peace. Gerald Alexis notes in his book *Peintres Haïtiens* that "Frankétienne's gestural style is evident in his energetic and dynamic representations." Frankétienne’s work contributes to promoting a positive image of Haiti, especially during a time when the reputation of the country has been tarnished by the failures and obscurantism of recent governments. He received numerous accolades from various foreign universities in recognition of his contributions.