Ibo Simon : une personnalité controversée ou adulée en Guadeloupe

Politician Ibo Simon, TV presenter and artist from Guadeloupe, had supporters who appreciated his wild and often racist words. Haitians, Dominicans were in his eyes the enemies of Guadeloupe and benefited from the greatness of the country. Supported by the late Raymond Viviès, he decided to enter politics with some success. He became a municipal councilor and was even elected in 1995 as a district councillor. In 2001, he was convicted by the courts of inciting racial hatred and deprived of his civil rights. Ibo Simon was a voice, an attitude, a method, values ​​all his own. A singer in his early days, one of his titles released in 1979 “Even if I have to die” was a huge success and made him famous in the music scene. When he appeared on the small screen, he became the star presenter of Canal 10 and, it must be said, pushed the channel into all the homes of Guadeloupe.

One foot in politics

His media fame led him to run for politics. He was a municipal councilor in Pointe-à-Pitre and regional councilor with the late Raymond Viviès in 1995. In 2001, Ibo Simon was convicted by the courts of inciting racial hatred and stripped of his civil rights. Gradually, his personal setbacks – he had been accused of sexually touching a hitchhiker – and his illness removed him from the political and public scene.

A few months ago, he appeared in a video to silence rumors of a disappearance and reassure his fans. At the end of his life, he lived in Le Gosier with early fans who cared for him like a family member. He leaves a great void and deep sadness in the hearts of Ibomiennes, Ibomiennes who loved him sincerely.