It was a year ago when Frantz Duval, editor-in-chief of this newspaper, called me to ask how he could get in touch with René Depestre, knowing that I visit him regularly, or at least check in on him from time to time.

While passing through France, the journalist indeed wanted to meet him, as he was preparing to celebrate his centenary in Haiti, which, as everyone believes, will take place on August 29, 2026.