The International Festival Nuits d’Afrique on Tuesday announced a program marked by the announced arrival of African stars Tiken Jah Fakoly and Femi Kuti at a press conference where Lamine Touré, the festival’s founder, returned to the controversy caused by the appointment of Mélissa Lavergne as speaker.
On Friday, two days after her appointment as speaker, percussionist Mélissa Lavergne resigned from this role following strong criticism expressed on social networks.
Deeply moved, Lamine Touré recalled the reasons that led her to choose Mélissa Lavergne as speaker, a role previously held by people of no African descent, such as Chantal Jolis, Francine Grimaldi or Louise Forest.
I asked Mélissa to be a speaker because she was sincere with us and respected us, and not just because she played percussion.explanation of the said he was very surprised by the provoked reactions.
He believes that people who criticize his choice will not not out of respect, but out of ignorance .
” These are the people who did not understand the Nuits d’Afrique mandate. […] The festival is colorless, it’s for everyone. […] White, black, red, yellow, green. “
I have already introduced Chinese reggae he added, to show the opening of his festival.
For him, the criticisms come mainly from young people, who were not even born when the festival was created in 1986. At some point they will understand he concludes, a philosopher.
Artist and social entrepreneur Ricardo Lamour was among those opposed to Mélissa Lavergne’s appointment as ambassador for Nuits d’Afrique.
There is a lack of representation of people from communities [noires] in Quebec, so if a festival is called Nuits d’Afrique, why do we go with this option?
Lamine Touré, the founder of the Nuits d’Afrique festival, returned Tuesday to the controversy caused by the appointment of Mélissa Lavergne as speaker.???? pic.twitter.com/ZRrDKx0Wl7
-Radio Canada Arts (@RC_Arts) June 1, 2022
Tiken Jah Fakoly and Femi Kuti in concert
In terms of programming, Ivorian singer Tiken Jah Fakoly and Nigerian musician Femi Kuti will open the indoor and outdoor sections of the event, which will take place from July 12 to 24.
For the first, great ambassador of African music to the world, this will be his reunion with the Montreal public, on July 13 at MTelus.
The festival has recruited other well-known artists for its internal programming, including Lindigo (Reunion Island), Moktar Gania and Gnawa Soul (Morocco) and Fabiana Cozza (Brazil).
Femi Kuti and Madé Kuti, son and grandson of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, will evoke the family sound heritage in the group The Positive Force. The show will take place on July 19 on the TD-Radio-Canada stage.
Other artists and formations in the series of major outdoor events include La Mambanegra (Colombia), Cheikh Ibra Fam (Senegal) and Yemi Alade, among others.
This year, Nuits d’Afrique decided to think big with two outdoor stages, instead of one like previous years.
Quebecer Joyce N’Sana, one of 2021-2022 Radio-Canada Revelations, will perform on the Loto-Québec outdoor stage on July 21, as part of a series of shows titled Feminine rhythms.
The Village des Nuits d’Afrique, which now stretches from the ground floor of the Quartier des Spectacles to the new quiet Esplanade, in the quadrilateral formed by Ontario, Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Urbain and Clark streets, will be animated day and evening with lots of shows and free activities from July 19 to 24.
Tickets for the festival’s indoor performances are available online on the organization’s website (New window).
Source: Radio-Canada