War inna Africa

>> >>And Afro fun in the summer sun in Montreal

by CHRIS YURKIW

So they're talking about famine in Ethiopia again. God, that's so '80s. I mean, Africa's given the world the rhythmic base for pretty much any kind of popular music you could name--you'd think they could come up with a better way to get our attention when they need help. Or you'd think that the world might want to give something back. Like, what'll it take--a genocide or something?!

Facetiousness aside, perhaps the thing to remember, as you groove on the grand array of African music in Montreal this summer, is that a lot of its ostensible joy was born of great pain. That of grande dame of South African music Miriam Makeba, for example, who kicks off the 14th edition of Nuits d'Afrique at the Spectrum on July 13, and who first addressed the UN on the horrors of apartheid in 1964. Makeba is a fitting figurehead for this year's fest (July 13-23), which includes 17 club shows and three days of free performances at Place Émilie-Gamelin, July 21-23. Another highlight of Nuits d'Afrique is the militant Afro-reggae of Tiken Jah Fakoly, who follows in the footsteps of fellow Ivory Coaster Alpha Blondy. He gives two performances: a record launch for Disques Nuits d'Afrique at Kola Note on July 18, and a free set on July 23.

The Nuits' nod to Brazil's 500th anniversary celebrations is by bringing in Rio Carnival hits Funk'n'Lata, who drop massive Bahian bloco afro beats behind a horn-y funk ensemble. Their July 20 date at the Spectrum is opened by Montreal Brazilians Pau Brasil, who practice the Brazilian martial art/dance capoeira--kicks and jumps to beats and bumps. One last Nuits d'Afrique note, in another Portuguese style: Cesaria Evora protégé Fantcha, from Cape Verde, brings the moving morna and coladeira too, to Club Balattou (also July 20).

The Vues d'Afrique film festival also offers free (that's free) music parallel to screenings. There's a warm-up series at Marché Maisonneuve July 7-9, with, respectively, Burkina Faso's Allakomi, Guadeloupe's Kalindi Ka, and Cadence Créole, who appropriately mix up music and dance from Haiti, Guadeloupe and Martinique. Then the full-blown fest hits July 13-16, with music sets before film screenings each evening at Parc Lafontaine's Parc de Verdure, by Kalinda Ka, Al Majd (Morocco/Libya), Lorraine Klassen & Soweto Groove (Montreal/South Africa) and Muna Mingole (Cameroun).

The Jazz Festival often includes the annual Africa Fête tour, but this year a double-bill with international Malian star Salif Keita and Benin pop crossover Angélique Kidjo (June 30) will have to suffice, amid the FIJM's largely classic-jazz line-up for 2000. The other big Spectra festival, Les FrancoFolies de Montréal, is also a little short on "world" content this year, but does represent with North African rai guys Rachid Taha (July 28) and Faudel (August 2). Back to Mali, FrancoFolies brings guitarist Ali Farka Touré back to Montreal for a three-way West African blues night with compatriots Rokia Traoré and Afel Bocoum on August 2.

A summer fest that doesn't usually include Africana but does this year is Just For Laughs. Now, it's probably not that programmers thought that the North American premiere of the music and dance piece Gumboots! would be funny--more that it's in the tradition of colourful dance performances from JFL's past years, like Stomp. Gumboots! (July 10-30, Centre Pierre-Péladeau) is a South African production with six dancers, three singers and three musicians who recreate the originally silent dance of black South African miners in giant Wellington boots, who were forbidden to speak but who founded an art form while communicating to each other with their bodies. Call it voting with your feet, or joy born of pain. And enjoy. :