Haitian-American and Beninese Princess Magalie Jean-Michel Kpolidji makes a historic appearance as the first direct bloodline descendant of the Haitian Revolution to take the stage at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan-African Culture.
In an unprecedented landmark for the global African diaspora, Princess Magalie, born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and raised in Medford, Massachusetts, will be officially received in Accra, Ghana. The visit is hosted by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), Ghana Chapter to foster international cultural diplomacy, heritage preservation, and global exchange.
A Powerful Message at the XVI International Notable Brazilian Awards
During her recent address as Guest of Honor at the XVI International Notable Brazilian Awards at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York, on September 5, 2026, Princess Magalie delivered a moving, unforgettable speech that captivated the audience and set the tone for her upcoming global mission. Expressing her deep gratitude to The Brazilian Times and its visionary father-and-son duo, Edirson Paiva Sr. and Jr., she highlighted the deep, unbreakable bond between the Haitian, Beninese, and Brazilian communities.
Reclaiming a Legacy of Statecraft and Sovereignty
Princess Magalie detailed her direct lineage to her great-grandfather, Haitian President François C. Antoine Simon, the great-nephew of General Toussaint Louverture, whose administration held vast land stewardships until his forced removal in 1911 that led to the gold seizure and the subsequent 1915 U.S. invasion of Haiti. Despite decades of foreign corporate exploitation attempting to erase that history, Princess Magalie emphasized that her family's legacy remains undeniably stamped onto the Haitian nation's identity, with national airports, official holidays, and historic monuments bearing her family name.
Uncovering Suppressed History and The Global Blueprint of Haiti
Illuminating hidden historical narratives regarding Haiti’s global blueprint and the impact of selective education, Princess Magalie shared:
"In 1779, Haitian soldiers fought alongside American forces to help defeat Great Britain in Savannah, Georgia, leading to the United States winning its Independence. Yet, selective education was so powerful that I grew up admiring General Napoleon Bonaparte, completely unaware that it was my direct bloodline, General Toussaint Louverture and Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who defeated Napoleon’s army, as well as the Spanish and British forces resulting in the Louisiana Purchase, a revolutionary victory that started the infamous 1803 slogan, 'America doubled in size overnight,' through the victorious 1804 Haitian Revolution and the First Nation to abolish slavery."
Addressing the deep psychological impact of this customized history on youth across the diaspora, she emphasized:
"When a structured education system controls what you read, it conditions how you view your worth, making a child of the Royal Kingdom of Allada and Haitian revolutionary lineage idolize the very empire their ancestors defeated."
She urged the global audience to take action, stating:
"We must research our roots, reclaim our historical truth, and demand full, unvarnished history in our schools. That is why we must keep demanding #TheHaitianRevolutionMovie, ensuring these stories receive global recognition."
From Community Pillar to Policy Powerhouse
Long before stepping into her royal title, Princess Magalie established herself as an unshakeable pillar of community advocacy and social change. Opening up with profound vulnerability during her address, she shared her past experience navigating life as a Section 8 recipient on government assistance in Massachusetts. Rather than accepting limitations, she transformed that experience into policy power.
Obtaining her real estate license and stepping into her role as Housing Chair of the Boston NAACP, she took the initiatives on educating Section 8 recipients on how to transition rental vouchers into homeownership mortgage vouchers. Elevating her platform to a national scale, she spearheaded the movement to mandate Fair Housing Continuing Education for licensed real estate agents across the country.
A Demand for Human Dignity
Challenging global leaders and politicians on human rights and the systematic treatment of immigrants under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Princess Magalie delivered one of the most haunting and influential moments of the evening, asking:
"When leaders campaign for TPS, are they fighting for the true weight of human dignity and the respect that people deserve, or are they simply prioritizing the protection of a labor force? On August 31,2026, college student Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old TPS recipient took his life due to the pressure and humiliation of wearing an ankle bracelet. Ankle monitors were designed to monitor what the system labels as convicted and potential criminals Like so many TPS recipients, Pierre's crime was being Haitian in search of a better life. TPS recipients are human beings who deserve permanent stability, respect, protection and homeownership, not to be treated as economic servitude, by placing ankle monitors on Black people as modern-day transatlantic slave trade chains."
Connecting the Afro-Brazilian Diaspora
This message carries profound resonance for The Brazilian Times and its international readership. Brazil holds one of the largest Afro-descendant populations in the world, sharing the same ancestral West African roots of the Kingdom of Allada and a shared history of resilience. By unifying the liberation struggles of Haiti, the royal sovereignty of Benin, the Pan-African legacy of Ghana, and the vibrant cultural power of Brazil, Princess Magalie’s journey represents a global triad of Black unity.
An Ancestral Return to the Motherland
Carrying out her 101-year-old grandmother's blessing to reclaim her family's name after decades of foreign corporate exploitation, Princess Magalie returned to Benin in 2025, receiving her official royal coronation by His Majesty King Kpodegbe. Now, as she prepares to stand on Ghanaian soil at the historic W.E.B. Du Bois Centre, she carries a message of self-determination to every individual across the diaspora.
In her exact words to the audience, Princess Magalie reminded the world that true power lies within:
"Every policy change I fought for, every board I sat on, and every national real estate initiative I built was accomplished when the world looked at me and thought I was a nobody. Do not wait for a title, a crown, or permission to step into your purpose."
