From Haiti to the world: Artist Néhémie Bastien shines in music and film

PORT-AU-PRINCE  —  Haitian artist Néhémie Bastien is preparing to make her international film debut in a Mexican production set to premiere later this year—a pivotal moment in her already rich artistic journey. Known for her commanding stage presence and emotive voice, Bastien filmed her role in the Amanalco forest — Amanalco-Valle de Bravo region in the central part of Mexico — where she portrays Esther, a mother fighting for her family’s survival in a hostile environment.

“It was a beautiful experience but also very difficult,” Bastien said of the shoot in an interview with  The Haitian Times. “I was alone in a foreign country, surrounded by multiple languages—English, Turkish, Spanish—and the working conditions were challenging. Despite everything, I pushed through to finish the film.”

The film, still untitled, tells the story of a Haitian migrant family navigating danger, survival and identity amid threats from armed groups in a remote Mexican forest. For Bastien, this role represents not just a career milestone but a deepening of her artistic voice—a voice shaped by resilience, faith and the daily struggles on the streets of Port-au-Prince.                                                                                

From gospel to global cinema: A voice of love and resistance

Fresh from her starring role in the shooting of the Mexican movie, Bastien returned to the stage in Port-au-Prince. On the night of Feb. 6, she electrified a jammed-packed Institut Français d’Haïti (IFH) courtyard with her “À Corps et à Souffle,” a concert designed to uplift residents during one of Haiti’s darkest moments. With a blend of song, poetry and storytelling, Bastien created a space of healing and intimacy.

“This concert means a lot to me; it feels like a return,” Bastien said. “I decided to sing songs everyone knows while also presenting some of my own music, and it worked out well.”

For Bastien, the concert wasn’t just about performance—it was a declaration of presence. After years of being focused on other artistic pursuits, she reasserted herself as one of Haiti’s most versatile performers.

Raised in a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian family, Bastien began singing in church. After her mother’s death when she was just five, she was raised by her father, who instilled discipline and hope in his children. These early hardships, rather than discouraging her, forged her strength.

Her artistic journey took her from gospel music to theater, where she studied at ACTE, the drama school founded by actress Gaëlle Bien-Aimé and her manager Amos César. She gained international acclaim with her lead role in Freda, a successful film directed by Gessica Généus and screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.

That performance positioned Bastien as one of the leading voices in Haitian cinema. But her aspirations extend far beyond a single film.

“I hope to continue working on more projects,” she said. “I learned and grew in a new and foreign environment as an actress, and I hope this will continue.”

“Discipline means everything,” she said.

Bastien continues to inspire in a country grappling with violence and instability. She speaks openly about the challenges of being an artist in Haiti, especially as performance platforms and artistic spaces become increasingly rare.

“Working as an artist in a country as difficult as Haiti requires great discipline,” Bastien said. “It means forcing yourself to meet deadlines, adapt to crisis and always be prepared.”

Her creative process is part instinct, part intention.

“I can be in conversation with someone and feel inspired,” she said. “Sometimes, I need complete silence to create. Other times, I participate in workshops that demand rapid creativity.”

A new album and a secret play

In addition to her film work, Bastien is working on her debut album, which she describes as emotional, spiritual and deeply personal. She is also preparing a new theater production—her own script—which is set to premiere on her birthday in June.

While the title is still under wraps, Bastien describes the project as “intimate” and “raw,” signaling a deeper commitment to storytelling through multiple artistic forms

Stéphanie François, an artistic director who has collaborated with Bastien on theater pieces like Le Monologue du Vagin, agrees.

“She’s an extraordinary singer with a powerful stage presence,” François said. “As an actress, she draws you into her world. Her art feels like a conversation.”

For Bastien, every project—whether music, theater, or film—is a step forward in her mission to represent Haitian stories on a global stage. With her upcoming film release and new projects on the horizon, she remains driven by faith, community and the quiet and firm conviction that her best work is yet to come.

“I feel that I am on the right path,” she said. “It may take time, but there will be good news.”

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