Created in 1997 in Aubervilliers as a cultural ambition of a popular education project, the Cities of World Music Festival, formerly “Auber’city of world music » has since broadened its scope and geographic reach. Structured as an association in 2023, the festival today reflects the abundant energy of the world cities that make up the Seine-Saint-Denis department and more generally Greater Paris.
From the start, this festival has chosen to have a program that combines tradition and urbanity to, assure the organizers, “ encourage encounters and crossovers between tradition and contemporary urban expressions » and which brings together established and emerging artists, amateurs and professionals. Considering that “music reflects a living diversity and can be reduced to a simple musical genre with well-defined contours », the Cities of World Music festival offers each year a program where traditional music and contemporary urban music come together boldly, coexist generously, mix happily and blend in the image of today’s society and music.
World Music Cities 2024 are no exception to this desire and this year’s theme “ In trance » contributes to bringing to life this moment of common energy where music is not just listened to, but becomes a powerful channel of transformation and refinement of cultural identity.
Gwo Ka and Coup de tambour by the Boukousou and Difé Kako companies
This is the case of Gwo Ka, the music depository of the Guadeloupean soul which will be celebrated in Villetaneuse on November 8 during an evening entitled “ Pulsation: Gwo Ka and Drum Beat Celebrations » by the Boukousou and Difé Kako companies. Led by the Guadeloupean singer-songwriter and spearhead of the Boukousou company Max Diakok, this concert is both rooted in the tradition of rural Gwo Ka and open to its urban and even modern variations. Combining dance and music, this celebration of Gwo Ka is more than a concert, it is a tribute to the ancestors, to the great figures of Gwo Ka and Guadeloupean culture. After the Boukousou company, musicians and dancers from Difé Kako will take over to lead the drumming.
Maloya in all its forms with Gran Sémé, Seksion Maloya and Votia
Liberating rhythms and heirs of slavery like Maloya from Reunion and the Indian Ocean which inspire the music of Gran Sémé, Seksion Maloya and Votia. These three groups will come together at Point Fort in Aubervilliers on November 9 to offer us, in the case of Gran Sémé, its evolving maloya, a sort of fusion between maloya, electronic music and African pop, root maloya imbued with songs and of percussion for Seksion maloya and the blues -maloya of Votia led by its leader Marie -Claude Philéas Lambert, worthy heir of Granmoun Lélé, his father and pillar of the music and cultural traditions of Reunion.
Focus on Haiti
Previously, this festival will invite the public to make an incursion into the voodoo cult with a focus on Haiti on November 2 at the Dynamo in Pantin during which film screenings, artist performances and round table discussions will be presented. Spectators will thus be able to watch the documentary film “ Ymelda’s ceremony » where the singer Ymelda, the most Martinican of Haitian artists, begins an initiatory journey to Togo in search of her mystical roots. They will also be able to appreciate the performance of the Togolese choreographer Ivalmok, that of the Haitian percussionist and dancer Nerlande Bazelais or that of Ymelda in singer mode. They will finally be able to question authors and academics Mackenzy Orcel, Jean-Marie Théodat, Florence Alexis and Jude Joseph during the round table on the past and present situation of Haiti. Haiti Solar. Haiti Resists! The light that shone brightly.” A round table which will be followed by a storytelling session with Haitian storyteller Jude Joseph.
Transcultural, it is with this perspective that the Cities of World Music festival fits even more this year by allowing its audience to access territories of emotion and reconciled humanity. A very useful immersion in these times.
E.B.
28th World Music Cities Festival
Until November 16, 2024
Information and programming: www.villesdesmusiquesdumonde.com tel: 01 48 36 34 02
