Scatterings of Africa

>> Vues d'Afrique and Nuits d'Afrique bring the sounds of the Motherland to Montreal

by SCOTT C

With one of the best Jazz Festivals the city has seen in a long time coming to a close, it's only natural for the spotlight to shift to two of the city's other music festivals that draw on tremendous international talent.

Vues d'Afrique, running from July 7-16, is a celebration of everything African, incorporating dance, music, cinema and art into over a week of shows on an outside stage.

The Nuits d'Afrique Festival, running from July 13-23, takes its participants indoors for some big-ticket names hailing everywhere from Cuba to Senegal and Haiti to Madagascar. With both festivals pretty much overlapping, it's a great opportunity to catch some great world acts that you may or may not have heard of.

Here's some musical picks, first off for Vues d'Afrique, which will have all its shows at Théatre de verdure at Parc Lafontaine. Thursday, July 13, has the group Kalindi Ka, all the way from Guadeloupe, bringing their traditional mix of chants and dances of love and revolution to the stage. On Friday, July 14, you can catch the Arab/Oriental music mixture of Al Majd as he represents Morocco. On Saturday, July 15, local voice Lorraine Klassen kicks up the dust with Soweto Groove backing her up with South African style. Sunday, July 16, you can check out Muna Mingole rounding up the rhythms of Cameroon. If you like the makossa, this is the place for you.

Vol de Nuit

Now on to Nuits d'Afrique. Thursday, July 13, is the day this fest kicks off with with the official opening show at the Spectrum, featuring the legendary Miriam Makeba. The Johannesburg native was banned from the country of her birth in 1960, making it necessary for her to perform throughout the world for the next 30 years. Makeba's travels have seen her perform for the Pope, Nelson Mandela, François Mitterand, Fidel Castro and even Hailé Selassie. That same night, Club Balattou welcomes the African folk rhythms of Madagascar Slim, who works his own roots connection with the aid of an electric guitar.

Friday, July 14, at Kola Note, traditional Cuban music meets head-on with the jazz of Omar Sosa. Sosa is known for having a charismatic and unpredictable live show, both of which can only add to his fiery piano presence. Saturday, July 15, is the night of the Mandingo Soirée at Kola Note. This full-tilt party celebrates the music of Senegal, Mali and Guinea with guests like Madou Diarra and others.

Monday, July 17, the Mighty Popo takes the stage at Club Balattou, combining the blues of the Mississippi delta with the rich and earthy rhythms of east and central Africa. Although Popo blends several influences to come up with his trademark sound, he always manages to secure a place for the African beat no matter what he does.

Tuesday, July 18, you can take in the world-renowned Ivory Coast reggae of Tiken Jah Fakoly. This man's reputation for truly soulful music precedes him, and for that very reason should not be missed. On Thursday, July 20, come and celebrate Brazil's 500th anniversary with Funk'N'Lata from Brazil and the rhythmic Capoeira of Montreal's Pau Brasil. This is definitely the year of Brazil, so this party should be over the top!

Check live music listings for show info