Michaël Brun brings a decade of Haitian pride to Brooklyn with BAYO festival

What began as a series of neighborhood block parties in Haiti has grown into a decade-long cultural movement in Brooklyn. DJ and producer Michaël Brun, a native of Port-au-Prince, has spent the last 10 years celebrating Haitian culture through BAYO, a festival and event series that combines music, community and philanthropy.

The name BAYO comes from the Haitian Creole words “bay,” meaning “to give,” and “yo,” meaning “them.” Brun said the concept was inspired by the block parties he hosted in different parts of Haiti.

“Philanthropy in general has been something I really care about, and that’s directly from my parents,” he said.

Brun said the idea is that whatever he creates, he wants to make sure it has a net positive impact on the community and the world. The BAYO initiative supports the Sharon Andrea Lee-Brun Memorial for BAYO fund, which was created in honor of Brun’s mother, who died of cancer a few years ago. The foundation aims to provide funding to existing organizations doing great work in Haiti and across the Caribbean.

Brun describes the concept of “bayo” as meaning there are other ways to give, not only monetarily, but also by giving back through culture, honoring the moment and making the community stronger.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the BAYO festival. BAYO held its first-ever multi-night residency at Brooklyn Paramount from June 25 to June 27. Brun called the festival an opportunity for people to experience a version of Haitian culture.

With 70% to 75% of people attending for the first time, Brun said it felt like a responsibility to introduce Haitian culture and Caribbean culture to new audiences and deepen their roots. He wanted people coming into the space to know and feel what they have built over the last 10 years, featuring artists from every generation and giving people an opportunity to hear the musicians live on stage.

“I think it’s a big responsibility to have that kind of stage because I want to make sure that when you walk out of there, you feel a sense of connection to your roots and a pride for your culture, and you can see the beauty that’s come from that, even if you yourself are not Haitian or from the Caribbean”.

Brun said whether people are from Haiti or the Caribbean, he wants everyone to enjoy the rich culture and what BAYO has to offer.

“I’ve always seen it as a responsibility and the most fun job I think I could ever have”.

Brun said bringing all these people together and celebrating is a dream come true. He said there’s always an element of surprise with the shows. The energy of the show represents the community, and the spirit of BAYO has grown over the years.

“I feel like the spirit of Haiti has always been at BAYO”.

During the 10th anniversary of BAYO, Wilson Isidor, a player from Haiti’s national team, joined Brun on stage. Brun said he has always been a fan of the Haitian national team and followed their journey, including attending the qualifier where Haiti secured its spot in the World Cup.

“I’ve just been a fan”, he said.

Brun said he has known some of the players for a while, including Duckens Nazon. This year, Brun also worked with the Haitian national team on a film project exploring the team, Haitian culture and the country’s heritage.

The film, “Grenadye Alaso 1974-2026,” was produced in collaboration with CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football). Directed by Leo Volcy and executive produced by Brun, Jozy Altidore and others, the documentary traces Haiti’s soccer journey from its lone World Cup appearance in 1974 to its return to the global stage in 2026.

Brun said the idea grew out of conversations with Volcy and reflection on the significance of the moment. It had been 52 years since Haiti’s national team qualified for the World Cup, and Brun and his collaborators wanted to tell the story of a country once again being recognized on a global stage for excellence.

The team self-funded the project, coordinating and organizing the production themselves. They also enlisted members of the Haitian community, including Altidore — a former U.S. national team player of Haitian descent — who narrated the film.

While filming at one of the team’s training camps, Brun met Isidor, and the two stayed in touch. Brun extended an open invitation to Isidor and his teammates, telling them, “if you ever want to come to the shows, you’re welcome anytime.”

Brun said he admired the players’ dedication and the sacrifices they made to represent Haiti on the World Cup stage. He wanted them to know they had a home at BAYO.

Isidor took him up on the offer. The forward, whose strike was selected by FIFA as one of the tournament’s top 10 goals, later attended the BAYO festival in Brooklyn. Brun said sharing the stage with Isidor was an iconic moment.

Born and raised in Haiti, Brun moved to the United States when he was 15. He originally aspired to be a doctor and studied pre-med in college, but music was always a passion. Both of his parents heavily influenced his interest in music. He started DJing in Haiti and then continued in the United States.

Brun said he always wanted to incorporate music from his heritage. His music has always been personal to him. He has produced for artists such as J. Balvin, Victoria Monet, Maxwell and new artists like Naika, whose song made it to number one in France.

He enjoys working with different artists around the world and integrating more sounds from his culture into their work.

Currently, Brun resides in Brooklyn, New York, where he reflected on his love for the city, the last 10 years, and the opportunity to work with so many incredible artists from around the world as a producer and writer.

Brun said he is grateful and excited, having been in the industry for more than 15 years, to know that this is the best year yet.