Nuits d’Afrique Festival Returns to Montreal with Global music Celebration
Montreal is set to pulsate with teh rhythms of Africa,the West Indies,and Latin America as the 39th edition of the Nuits d’Afrique International Festival takes center stage from July 8-20. This year’s festival promises a vibrant showcase of cultural diversity, hosting approximately 700 artists hailing from around 30 countries. The extensive program features a mix of established stars and emerging talents, including performances by Flavia Coelho, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, and rising sensation Blaiz Fayah.
A 13-Day Musical Journey
For 13 days, Nuits d’Afrique will transform Montreal into a global music hub, presenting around 120 concerts and activities. These events will be spread across six indoor venues and two free outdoor stages, offering a extensive exploration of African, West Indian, and Latin american musical traditions. The free component of the festival will feature 36 shows, taking place from July 15-20 in the Quartier des Spectacles.
Did you know?
The Nuits d’Afrique festival has been a cornerstone of Montreal’s cultural scene for nearly four decades, promoting intercultural dialog and celebrating the richness of global music.
Suzanne Rousseau, Director General of the Festival, emphasizes the event’s commitment to showcasing both classic and contemporary sounds:
We travel a lot and we go from great classics to new trends. The followers of heritage music will find their account, but those who want to see how the new generations appropriate these music will find themselves there too.
Suzanne Rousseau, Director General of the Festival
Indoor Highlights: Flavia Coelho and Emerging Artists
The Franco-Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho will inaugurate the indoor programming on July 9 at L’Olympia. Her performance will feature a dynamic blend of samba, reggae, g-funk, house, amapiano, bossa-nova, pagoda, and northern forró, a traditional Brazilian music style. Coelho, fresh off a accomplished Olympia performance in France, aims to captivate the Montreal audience with tracks from her extensive repertoire, including her latest album, Ginga, released in 2024.
Rousseau describes Coelho as:
It’s really an unbelievable stage beast.
Suzanne Rousseau, Director General of the Festival
Another highlight of the indoor shows is the “Revelations” series, presented by Radio-canada, which spotlights emerging world music ambassadors.
Pro Tip
Check out the “Revelations” series for a chance to discover the next big names in world music. These showcases often feature artists who are pushing boundaries and blending genres in exciting new ways.
Club Balattou will host the Fulu Mizik Kolektiv from the Democratic Republic of Congo, known for creating music with instruments made from recycled materials. Rousseau describes their unique sound as:
It looks like punk with Congolese sounds.
Suzanne Rousseau, Director General of the Festival
For those seeking a more contemporary vibe, the “Global beat” series will feature South African hip-hop legend Stogie T and Colombian producer Killabeatmaker, who infuses traditional Cumbia with electronic elements, creating an:
Ultra modern and ultra urban
atmosphere.
Free Outdoor Concerts: Femi Kuti,Djely Tapa,and Meiway
The free outdoor program promises an equally compelling lineup,with 36 shows across various stages in the Quartier des Spectacles. On July 15, French singer Mo’kalamity, influenced by reggae pioneers such as Bob marley, the Wailers, and Burning Spear, will perform on the TD stage, followed by dancehall sensation Blaiz Fayah, who boasts over 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
July 18 will feature performances by festival regulars Djely Tapa from mali and femi Kuti from Nigeria, son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Femi Kuti & The Positive Force will showcase tracks from their new album, Journey Through Life, released in April.
The festival will conclude on July 20 with a free show on the TD stage by Ivorian veteran Meiway, the inventor of Zoblazo music. This marks Meiway’s third appearance at Nuits d’Afrique.
Rousseau explains the selection criteria for the outdoor performances:
For the outdoor shutter,we wanted to put really unifying,festive and multigenerational artists.Meiway is one of them, he is popular on the whole African continent and he is still fashionable, after all these years.
Suzanne Rousseau, Director General of the Festival
Tickets and Passport Options
Full programming details and ticket information are available on the Nuits d’Afrique festival website. New this year are the “full experience” passport, granting access to all indoor shows, and the “Balattou” passport, providing access to the 22 concerts at Club Balattou.
