by LORRAINE CARPENTER

Featuring nearly 500 artists from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, North America and the Middle East, the Festival International Nuits d'Afrique celebrates African and African-rooted music in all its eclectic glory. From July 13 to July 25, the fest will mark its 18th year with 30 indoor concerts at Club Balattou, Kola Note, Lion d'Or, the Medley and Metropolis. Place Émilie-Gamelin, at the corner of Ste-Catherine and Berri, is the outdoor site of free shows and a multicultural village, a smorgasbord of ear-luring, eye-catching and tongue-tempting treats.

As the honorary Godfather of the festival, Alpha Blondy makes us an offer we can't refuse, kickstarting the festival with his 12-piece band Solar System on Tuesday, July 13 and Wednesday, July 14 at Metropolis at 8 p.m., for $32. Inspired by Bob Marley's activist spirit and Jah love, Blondy has spent two decades building an international reputation as the king of African reggae. Born and based on the Ivory Coast, this self-proclaimed African Rasta sings socially conscious anthems in French, English, Arabic, Hebrew and his mother tongue, Dioula.

Other artists in the Grands Événements series include Cuban jazz spectacular Chico Alvarez Y Mafimba paired with Diblo Dibala and Aurlus Mabélé of the legendary Congolese soukous group, Loketo (Medley, Sun., July 18, 8 p.m., $24) and New York's inimitable Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra (Medley, Tues., July 20, 8 p.m., $21).

The Sélections series at Lion d'Or showcases the fused stylings of musicians from Syria, Israel, Maghreb and Cameroon, while the Favoris series features longtime festival favourites from Quebec and Africa. Meanwhile, Balattou's Découvertes series promotes new artists from Guyana, Guinea, India, Congo and Mali.

From July 23 to 25, Place Émilie-Gamelin will come alive with music, an African market, dance workshops, percussion lessons, demonstrations of traditional instruments and make-up, drawing and singing sessions for kids, and it's all free.

As Alpha Blondy says in the festival's press release, "In these troubled times, let music be the magic that binds us all together without conflict and without hate. May Africa, through its music, shine a light of joy across starry nights in Montreal."

For more information call 499-FINA or go to www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com

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