The 36th Nuits d’Afrique Festival is in full swing in Montreal and the free portion of the program offers shows starting Tuesday and ending July 24. ICI Musique host Philippe Fehmiu, a regular at the festival, gives us his suggestions for free concerts to see outdoors, from Joyce N’Sana to Femi Kuti.
Femi Kuti ( July 19)
One of the must-see concerts is that of Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Nigerian singer and musician Fela Kuti, who invented Afrobeat in the 1970s.
Nominated six times for the Grammys, including twice in 2022, Femi Kuti has what it takes to carry his father’s cultural and musical baggage and make Afrobeat resonate in the ears of a new generation. He will be there with his group The Positive Force and his son, the singer and musician Made Kuti, for an intergenerational festive evening.Start of Youtube widget. Skip widget?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/aeOklefYRW0?enablejsapi=1End of Youtube widget. Return to top of widget?
This concert will also kick off the free portion of the Nuits d’Afrique Festival, at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night on the TD – Radio-Canada stage. Philippe Fehmiu admits to being particularly excited about the event, since he will be warming up the stage with a DJ performance starting at 9 p.m., which will be broadcast live on ICI Musique.
Open in full screen mode
Philippe Fehmiu
Photo: Radio-Canada / Amélie Grenier
Yemi Alade ( July 24)
Philippe Fehmiu’s second favorite this year is Nigerian artist Yemi Alade, who has performed alongside Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige and Angélique Kidjo. The artist, who was named best female artist at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2015, released her fifth album, Empress , in 2020.
Yemi Alade embodies the youth of Nigeria, which is really the force for the coming years of the whole of West Africa and the whole African continent, with its spectacular demography. Music has an influence on the economic development of the country and on other forms of art
, explains the music lover.Start of Youtube widget. Skip widget?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/L2n3lBHiZRs?enablejsapi=1End of Youtube widget. Return to top of widget?
Yemi Alade is into Afropop and Afrobeat, which are increasingly popular in North America. This summer, the music that is generating the most excitement is Afrobeat. For example, there is Rema, who is coming soon to the Beach Club. So this music, which was on the fringes for a long time, has now become mainstream
, explains Philippe Fehmiu.
Advertisement
Yemi Alade will be in concert on Sunday, July 24 at 9:30 p.m. on the TD – Radio-Canada stage, located on the parterre of the Quartier des spectacles.
Ramon Chicharron ( July 22)
Colombian multi-instrumentalist Ramon Chicharron, who has lived in Montreal for nearly 15 years, is another artist not to be missed at the festival. The artist, who built a loyal following with a weekly night for five years at L’Escalier, a Montreal restaurant-bar and performance venue, released his latest album, Destello de estrellas , in the spring, a mix of Caribbean and Latin influences with hints of electro and jazz.Start of Youtube widget. Skip widget?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/fbDRWvHkGJ8?enablejsapi=1End of Youtube widget. Return to top of widget?
Ramon Chicharron is currently experiencing his most abundant musical summer of his life, with about thirty shows here and in the United States
, explains Philippe Fehmiu. He is an artist who has just reached a beautiful maturity; he has worked really hard and now, he has his place in the sun. He is in control of his means, he knows his stage and the dialogue with his audience.
The artist will perform on July 22 at 8 p.m. on the TD – Radio-Canada stage.
Advertisement
Wesli ( July 19)
Winner of a Juno and a Félix in 2019 for his album Rapadou Kreyòl , Haitian multi-instrumentalist Wesli is another regular in Quebec, where he settled in 2001. An exceptional guitarist, he has also been designated an ambassador of Haitian culture to the world by the Haitian government. His music combines the roots of voodoo with genres like Afrobeat and hip-hop.
Wesli is a machine, a beast on stage. He has almost 20 years of experience
, explains Philippe Fehmiu. Even if you don’t know his tunes, it doesn’t matter, after 10 minutes, everyone is in tune.
He will be in concert on July 19 at 8 p.m., again on the TD – Radio-Canada stage.Start of Youtube widget. Skip widget?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ykXAIWeG52o?enablejsapi=1End of Youtube widget. Return to top of widget?
Joyce N’Sana ( July 21)
Last but not least of Philippe Fehmiu’s recommendations: the 2021-2022 Radio-Canada Revelation Joyce N’Sana, of Congolese origin. The singer with the smooth voice mixes reggae, gospel, hip-hop, jazz and afroblues to concoct her own musical style, afrobluehop.
We are under the umbrella of Afrobeat, but with touches of soul and R’n’B, because that’s what Joyce N’Sana’s voice carries. It adds bluesy colors to this music. She is really an artist to watch. You have to go see her
, summarizes Philippe Fehmiu.Start of Youtube widget. Skip widget?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/MYEqCNAzSqE?enablejsapi=1End of Youtube widget. Return to top of widget?
Joyce N’Sana will perform on July 21 at 7 p.m. on the Loto-Québec stage at the Esplanade Tranquille, at the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Urbain streets.