Mondo five-oh

>> The gang’s all here for Nuits d’Afrique’s Gala du Monde


by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

This coming summer, the Nuits d’Afrique music festival will be celebrating their sweet 16th, and celebrating hard. Consider the numbers alone: in 1987, the fest’s first year, attendance clocked in around 10,000. Not bad given that Club Balattou was the only venue. Last year, what with the outdoor stage at Place Émilie-Gamelin, they hit the 120,000 mark. Steady as she goes! Putting a human face on the figures, note that such African luminaries as Youssou N’dour, Miriam Makeba, Baaba Maal and King Sunny Adé have graced the fest with their talents—which might account for the great turn-outs.

The locals are no slouches either. Any musician with even the most tenuous connection to Africa has probably had a Nuits d’Afrique moment. And many—no less than 50, as a matter of fact—will have another at the upcoming Gala du Monde soirée.

The event, with an anticipated running time of six hours, is a benefit for the festival. You know, a little extra dosh to throw around and help make this coming summer’s edition even bigger than last. The line-up’s so full that they had to alphabetize the acts on promo materials, from Haiti’s Asoto to Cameroon’s Zekuhl. Expect the North African sounds of Salaam, Cheb Dino, and Syncope. Groove and grind to the Caribbean rhythms of Jab Jab, Éval Manigat and Larose. Chill to the Brazilian vibes of Nico Béki, Assar Santana and Paolo Ramos, or conversely, turn up the heat with the Cubanismo of Barbara Ruiz, Jesus el Nino and Convoy Cubano. Take it back to Africa with Senegal’s Boubacar Diabaté, Chad’s Hsao, Congo’s Pacha and Cameroun’s Sunroots. Or keep it homestyle with Quebec’s own Adam Chaki, J’Tam, Chango Family and Raoul et les Raoulettes. Oh, and there’s the Russian sounds of GL.A-Z in there, too.

Quick calculations break that down to about seven minutes per act, so unless you’ve got a bladder of steel or an irrational fear of beer, don’t expect to catch every last one. Oh, wait—I hadn’t factored in changeover time (they’re gonna need Speedy Gonzales for a stage tech) and the various hosts presenting the artists. The Rhino Party’s François Gourd (founder and sole inhabitant of the “lost” African nation Habitibi) will act as MC (only dropping the ceremonious bit), with CBC’s Francine Grimaldi and Chantal Jolis, MusiquePlus guy Ralph Boncy and Ici’s world-beat watchdog Yves Bernard taking turns at the mic.
To put it all briefly, this is the probably most comprehensive smorgasbord of local world-music talent to ever be found in one place at one time. Here’s hoping there’s room for us music fans, once they’ve crammed in all the musicians. :

At Medley on Friday, April 19, 8pm, $30