Wyclef Jean Never Forgot His Roots: Haitian Flag Day Celebration at Bon Berger Church

By Samuel Georges

On a radiant May 18th in South Orange, New Jersey, the backyard of Église du Bon Berger came alive with music, history, and Haitian pride. It was Haitian Flag Day, and standing at the heart of the celebration was none other than Wyclef Jean—international superstar, humanitarian, and proud son of Haiti—returning to the very church where his late father, Rev. Pastor Jean, once preached.

This wasn’t a concert—it was a cultural revival, a spiritual reunion, and a celebration of legacy.

The church’s backyard was transformed into a vibrant festival space. Children jumped and danced on a trampoline while elders waved their Haitian flags high and proud. The colors of red and blue filled the air, blending with the rhythm of drums, the smell of griyo, and the warm sounds of Kreyòl being spoken between generations.

Wyclef arrived simply, with his guitar on his back, and took the stage—humble, energized, and full of heart.

He opened with a stirring rendition of “I Don’t Know Why He Loves Me” by Rigaud Duverney, honoring the deep roots of Haitian gospel tradition. Then, as only Wyclef can, he transitioned into a vibrant Compas-infused praise set, blending church worship with the rhythm of the streets.

He smiled as he recalled his father's initial hesitation about using Compas in church. “My dad would say, ‘Clef, that’s party music!’” he laughed. “But now? We’re praising God with it. If the rhythm brings people together and gives glory to God, then it belongs right here.”

The crowd clapped, danced, and rejoiced.

But one of the most powerful and touching moments came from the youngest among them.

A five-year-old girl stepped forward, dressed in a beautifully hand-sewn Karabela dress—the traditional attire of Haitian women, proudly designed in the colors of the Haitian flag. The white lace, red bodice, and blue sash framed her like a living symbol of Haitian identity.

With fearless grace, she sang “La Dessalinienne,” Haiti’s national anthem. Her voice, clear and unwavering, soared through the air as the crowd fell silent—captivated by the beauty, strength, and symbolism of the moment. She embodied the very spirit of the nation: proud, young, and unshaken.

Before Wyclef’s performance, a local pastor narrated the origin of the Haitian flag, reminding everyone how enslaved Africans from across the continent united in struggle and triumph to form the first Black republic in the world. “Our flag was stitched from revolution and vision,” he said. “And today, that torch is in the hands of a new generation.”

By the end of the celebration, the backyard of Bon Berger had become holy ground—a space where faith, culture, music, and history met under the open sky.

Wyclef Jean, with his guitar, his stories, and his soul, reminded everyone that no matter how far you go, you must never forget where you come from.

Wyclef never forgot. And on this Haitian Flag Day, neither did his people.