Posted at 1:00 p.m.
Yemi Alade, big African star of the moment and concert planned for the closing of this 36e edition, had his visa to enter Canada refused. Disappointment. But that should not overshadow the quality of the programming.
Of course, the artists who have played and will play in theaters, at the Club Balattou, at the Théâtre Fairmount, at the Gesù or at the MTelus (Tiken Jah Fakoly) have their say in the announced success of this reunion edition. But in the street, we were not bored.
Tuesday evening, the Burkinabe Kabey Konate and his group Farafina Roots were in perfect harmony with the traditional Mandingo sounds, carried by the wisdom of the elders and the reggae that he put forward with his warm and rocky voice. We were treated to an intoxicating solo from his violinist at the end of the set, a moment that seemed to awaken the spirits and which got the clamor of the public.
A stone’s throw away, on the stage of the Tranquille esplanade, another violin, this one diabolical, by Elisabeth Rodriguez, an inseparable element of the music of the Cuban-Canadian duo Okan.
Boosted by Magdelys Savigne’s percussion, Okan’s arrangements of danzón and guajira with West Indian and African spices push back the frontiers of Afro-Cuban. Captive and festive audience for these two bugs snoopers who won the Juno Award for Best World Music Album of 2021.
The Haitian multi-instrumentalist Wesli, established in Quebec since 2001, enveloped the dusk with his amalgamation of genres, afro-beat, funk and reggae, which cohabit harmoniously with voodoo traditions and the use of the cornet, this instrument rara ensembles from Haitian folklore. With the addition of a saxophone and a trumpet, the punctures more funky of his music attack our bodies and flood the crowd with an invigorating freshness. Here is one who is not content to jump on the bandwagon.
Femi Kuti, an ardent defender ofafro beat of his father, Fela, showed up with his three dancers and singers and an armada of brass who honked where it feels good. There were a dozen of them swinging these killer rhythms with unstoppable arrangements. Very energetic and dancing, funky at times, a crowded front of the stage, the bet was won by the third song. Big atmosphere and conclusive reunion for this new stopover in Montreal for the Nigerian.
For the ears and for the sense of smell
Thursday evening, Joyce N’sana was particularly lively with her blues punch and his voice à la Janis Joplin which caused a strong reaction. Like a Bessie Smith of another time, she involved the enthusiastic crowd who responded with yeah! with each verse of the singer, whose singing tour resembled an exorcism session, with a voice that remains in the air instead of falling. All this mixed with the musical traditions of the Congo! A heroic and flamboyant performance for the 2021-2022 Radio-Canada Revelation.
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
Show by Joyce N’sana as part of the Nuits d’Afrique festival
The Montreal collective from Algeria Syroko, winner of the Syli d’Or prize for world music presented on stage by the founder of the festival, Lamine Touré, also marked this 36e edition with a remarkable cohesion between the instruments, accordion, violin, guitars, percussion. The Algerian diaspora made its presence felt, especially when he sang Ya Rayahthe anthem, the classic that Rachid Taha had once taken up.
Remarkable attendance, we also observed around the two stages erected in the eastern portion of the Quartier des spectacles.
The Symphonic Parterre and its convivial grassy area are a delight for families. The scent of Caribbean and African grills and the brand new Esplanade Tranquille and its splendid Timbuktu market, which displays its most beautiful colorful clothes and works of art, are an epicenter of the festivities until Sunday, the last day of the festival.
The eyes of the lookouts are now on the Afro-Colombians Bumaranga, this Saturday, and the Congolese Naxx Bitota on Sunday.
The Nigerian Yemi Alade will be replaced by the young rapper Sampa Tambo, known as Sampa the Great, Sunday evening 9:30 p.m., on the TD-Radio-Canada stage, at the end of the festival.
The Zambian expatriate in Australia will shoot some vindictive arrows of her own by incorporating into her hip-hop groovy kalindula and kwaito styles, including trap and R&B. It is hardly surprising that she was invited to the prestigious festivals of Glastonbury in England and Coachella in California.
Very nice cover on the fly from Nuits d’Afrique.