Mahaut, Dominica: March 26, 2026 – The Mahaut community plans a massive send-off for Cadence-lypso icon, Cletus “Halibut” Abraham with funeral service at the St. Martin de Porres Chapel in Canefield followed by burial at the public cemetery in Mahaut on Saturday 28th March, and then a giant Tribute Concert on the grounds of the Mahaut Market on Sunday 29th March, from 6:00 p.m. Mourners will also have the opportunity to view the body during a brief stop-over at the Mahaut Market from 8:00 am – 8:30 a.m. on Saturday 29th March.
Halibut, who passed away on March 14th, was a former lead singer with the legendary musical band, Belles Combo, and a soloist for several years, composing a string of big hits from the 1970s until recent times. He penned and composed several hits with Belles Combo, including songs like Simplify Yourself, Jaws, Mal Eleve, la Vie Vini Pli Weid, among others, but he is best remembered in recent times for his solo acts, including winning many Cadence-lypso competitions and performing on the World Creole Festival stage. His Pawabol and Wash Their Tongue have now become legendary and will go down among the best-penned and loved songs from Dominica in the last few years.
The Halibut Tribute Concert will provide a unique opportunity for several local performers, including some from his home village of Mahaut, to perform some of the best-known songs to his legion of fans and to a wider global public that has come to love and admire this unique Mahaut talent. The performers on the concert will include Lloydie of First Serenade Band, Nacheal, Senator, and Janet Azzouz from the Mahaut community; Joey Lloyd of calypso-fame but who grew up in the Mahaut area, serial cadence-lypso winner White Fayrie, along with the presence of Chubby and Co of the Midnight Groovers fame. Testimonials and tributes from family members, community leaders, and from the Belles Combo will also form part of the Tribute Concert. The concert will be anchored and produced by First Serenade Band and powered by Kairi Sounds.
The public can expect a top-quality concert dedicated to highlighting the contribution of Halibut to Dominica and world music, and an opportunity for the community and Dominica to pay homage to one of the country’s most enduring and unique musical talents.
Organizers are requesting a heavy turnout to both the funeral service and the concert, and call on the people of Mahaut in particular to come celebrate their icon, Cletus Halibut Abraham.
Support for the staging of the Halibut Tribute Concert has come from the Cassanni Laville, Parliamentary Representative for Mahaut; Chairperson and members of the Mahaut/Jimmit/Tarreau Village Council; First Serenade Band; former members of Belles Combo, Senator Hon Rayburn Blackmoore; Kairi FM and Kairi Sounds; Emile Paben Serrrant, Leroy “Wadix” Charles, DBS Radio, Emo News, Q95 FM, and several leaders in the Mahaut community.