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Diasporamic
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The 16th Nuits d’Afrique fest
Set to kick off their 16th season, the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique has not only established itself as one of Montreal’s premiere fests (and an appropriately hot ’n’ sweaty one, smack dab in the middle of scorching July) but have again outdone themselves in their booking choices. Moreover, to mix it up and throw the curve a bit, the Nuits people have put together a variety of wise and exciting double bills. Officially kicking off the fest is a massive Algerian bill at le Spectrum on Thursday, July 11, featuring Cheikha Rimitti and Sahraoui. Octogenarian Rimitti deserves the title of cheikha-voted North Africa’s best artist at the 2001 All-Africa Music Awards, she’s effectively the grandmother of raï, Algeria’s pop music, and all its Chebs owe her a debt. So does opening act Sahraoui, who throws the doors open by bringing in touches of reggae, American soul and Latin rhythms.
Bagayogo, for his part, has earned the nickname “Techno Issa” in his native Mali. By trade a player of the stringed kamele n’goni (and a bus driver, too, which no doubt helps on the tour circuit), Bagayogo is a groundbreaker in that he’s the first to fuse Malian musical traditions with European electronica. Moreover, he does it in a tasteful and engaging way, as is illustrated on his Six Degrees releases Timbuktu and Sya. The following night, Friday, July 12, Femi Kuti joins Chad’s H’Sao at le Spectrum. Once again, for those who weren’t paying attention: Kuti is the son of late Nigerian legend Fela Kuti, the heroic founder of the Afro-beat sound which fused American funk, killer brass lines, tranced-out, quarter-hour polyrhythmic jams and ferocious political activism. Femi’s softened the edges a good bit-his father’s fights aren’t his own-but he’s updated the sound, and in his dance moves and sax playing we can see his dad all over again. Juno
what to do Over at Kola Note, it’s the Cubans’ night to shine. On the bill is Maria Caridad Valdès, a 2001 Latin Grammy nominee who blends bolero, Cuban folk and torchy jazz in an inimitable way. If the family name sounds familiar, it’s because her pianist brother Chucho is slated for the Jazz Fest this week. Joining Maria is Lazaro René, a Juno winner. Cuba’s just the starting point for this fountain of fiesta fun who does what he does with son (obviously) as well as cumbia, cha cha and merengue. Sunday,
July 14, takes it back to Africa. Kola Note hosts a pair of artists
from Guinea-Alpha Yaya Diallo (no jokes about “getting your ya-yas
out”) and Fodé Kouyaté. Canadian-based Diallo’s
also a Juno winner, and considering The Journey, his album of warm,
thoughtful Afro-pop from the same bag as Salif Keita and Baaba Maal,
it’s no surprise. Opening is Kouyaté, nephew of the revered
Mory Kante and, like his uncle, an “electric griot,” bringing
the marvellous oral traditions of West Africa into our plugged-in modern
times. One show that is absolutely not to be missed is the Malian night at le Spectrum on Monday, July 15. On the one hand, there’s Rokia Traoré. She’s unusual in that she comes not from the griot caste, as do most Malian musicians, but from a diplomat’s family. That’s why her youth was spent all over the world, absorbing a wide variety of music. Later, the great guitarist Ali Farka Touré, he of Talking Timbuktu, took her under his wing. She now wields her acoustic guitar and inviting voice to maximum effect (the quiet accompaniment of trad instruments won’t get in the way of that).
Heading south, Tuesday, July 16, sees no less tha the Lion of Zimbabwe, Thomas Mapfumo, in the company of local lioness Lorraine Klaasen, originally from South Africa. Mapfumo’s signature chimurenga sound, mixing U.S. soul, African township jive and older traditions from his region in a political profound toss-up, is Zimbabwe’s equivalent of the aforementioned Fela Kuti-except that he’s still at it, and getting better with age. As for Klaasen, with two decades in Montreal behind her, she doesn’t really need an introduction. But maybe you’ve been sleeping for 20 years, so here’s the deal. The daughter of famous South African crooner Tandie Klaasen, Lorraine can sing in English, French, Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa, Lingala, Greek, Hebrew and a dozen African dialects-lately she’s rounded it down to just four languages. You know, for convenience. Singer, dancer, songwriter, musicologist and choreographer, Klaasen is a one-woman showtime powerhouse, Between her and Mapfumo, well, this gig’s one of the lynchpins of an outstanding season for Nuits d’Afrique. : >> For more info >> Music Listings |
The
same night, July 11, sees P18 and Issa Bagayogo at Kola Note. P18, riding
in on the strength of their sophomore disc Electropica, is the brainchild
of former Mano Negra keyboardist Tom Darnal. Born in the arrondisements
of Paris, P18 maintains both the frenzied polyculturalism and the manic
energy of Mano Negra, only with a more intense Cuban leaning. Playing
a boisterous counterpoint to the smooth, chill sounds of the Latin house
movement, the band draws on a variety of Latin rhythms and Euro club
styles, beefing it all up with some rock-hop punch.
On
the other hand, you’ve got the Super Rail Band. It’s the
musical choo-choo, three decades old, that once carried Salif Keita
and Mory Kante to stardom. Check the SRB out for its definitive Afro-pop
sound alone, or check it out to see who the next big thing outta Africa’s
gonna be-chances are, that person will be on stage this night.