Joseph Dieudonne Larose and the management of his patrimonial and moral rights
Pierre-Phaill Goudou ·
In the testamentary document, the artist designated his eldest daughter, Gemberly Larose, as the principal liquidator.
Joseph Dieudonné Larose wrote his will before his death on January 9, 2026 in Montreal. In the document, the artist designated his eldest daughter, Gemberly Larose, as principal liquidator. The famous singer named his daughter Percilia Larose and his wife Viviane Latour Larose as substitute liquidators and his son Kidman Larose as substitute liquidator.
At a press conference this Sunday, February 22, Gemberly, Kidman and Viviane Latour Larose, accompanied by their lawyer, Me Ikenson Edume, provided an update on the exploitation of Dieudonné Larose's works, one month after the singer's funeral held in the strictest intimacy in Montreal.
On behalf of the entire Larose family, Gemberly apologized for the decision to organize her father's funeral in the strictest intimacy as the artist wanted during his lifetime.
The singer's last wishes meant a lot to his heirs as much as Dieudonné Larose insisted on how his funeral should be conducted. They say they recognize in the artist a public good belonging to all Haitians, given the communion that existed between him and his fans, but also, the love that Dieudonné Larose carried in his heart for Haiti.
Through their lawyer, Me Ikenson Edume, the three children and the artist's wife who therefore constitute the management committee for the patrimonial and moral rights of Dieudonné Larose wanted to be clear regarding the exploitation of the famous singer's works.
Citing the Quebec Civil Code, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and other international conventions regarding copyright protection, the lawyer wanted to specify that without written authorization from these four people representing Joseph Dieudonné Larose's family, any reproduction, remix, public broadcasting, distribution, commercialization, adaptation, compilation, audiovisual production and any exploitation of the artist's works will be considered a violation of the artist's rights.
Any person or group of people who would engage in exploiting Joseph Dieudonné Larose's works without authorization will be liable to prosecution.
The singer's successors show themselves open to any form of manifestations that could contribute to extending the singer's works. Keeping alive, perpetuating and extending the works of their dear Dieudonné is the family's objective, which wants to send a signal to the general public regarding the exploitation of deceased artists' works.
They say they are making themselves available and show themselves open to all those who think of undertaking steps to organize activities related to the memory and works left by the famous singer.
The singer's successors announced the upcoming creation of the Joseph Dieudonné Larose Foundation whose mission will be to contribute to preserving the artist's memory and help young talents succeed in their careers.
The foundation will also commit to promoting Haitian and Caribbean music by organizing cultural activities and offering scholarships to young artists. These are projects that were already initiated by the famous singer during his lifetime that Larose's successors want to see become reality.
Joseph Dieudonné Larose's family also intends to make available to young artists the deceased's recording studio located in West Palm Beach, Florida and build in Haiti a museum where all the stage costumes, posters, albums and all the works of the famous singer will be exhibited.
An emblematic figure of Compas Direct, Joseph Dieudonné Larose began making a name for himself in music with the Shoogar combo before joining Dipi Express. After a successful album with titles like "Grann Nana, Negriers et Maladie d'amour" he left Haiti for Canada and settled in Montreal. He joined Touco Bouzi's Dixie Band and marked his passage through the hit "Haiti".
Still seeking success, he joined former musicians from Méridionale des Cayes and founded Missile 727 where he reached the peak of his art.
Larose and Missile 727 still hold the record for the concert gathering the largest number of people (17,000) performed in Haiti by a group, in summer 1991 at Henfrasa. He had experiences with Africa Express, SuperSonic, Excell Compas before ending his career solo.
Couturier, chef, singer, author and composer, alongside Ti Manno "Antoine Rossini Jean Baptiste," Joseph Dieudonné Larose nicknamed "Messenger of the Year 200" was of rare political and social engagement in the compas milieu. His positions transcended borders by singing Nelson Mandela's struggle and challenging the role of the United Nations in the framework of its mission to maintain peace in the world.
His age and number of children remain subjects of controversy until his death on January 9, 2026. However, Gemberly and Kidman Larose say they count 23 brothers and sisters. They promise to undertake everything within the framework of the law as, respectively, principal liquidator and liquidator of their father's patrimonial and moral rights and in harmony with Joseph Dieudonné Larose's other children.