FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL NUITS D’AFRIQUE

A Worldwide Musical Gathering featuring Rhythms out of Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America

For the Festival’s 37th edition, several hundreds of artists from over thirty countries—from the biggest names to the newest sensations both at home and abroad—will be under the spotlight while they rally thousands of festivalgoers eager to discover new artists and fresh sounds, and share in the joyous atmosphere.

13 DAYS OF INDOOR CONCERTS – 8 SERIES
6 CONCERT VENUES – 2 FREE OUTDOOR STAGES

This year’s stunning lineup will take festivalgoers through a range of emotions with eight concert series, much like taking a sensational journey into as many new realms of experience and discovery. Whether experiencing the GRANDS ÉVÉNEMENTS, which includes the opening concert featuring Franco-Beninese diva ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO, or chilling during the mellow PRESTIGE Series evenings, where you might listen to master kora player, SECKOU KEITA, or maybe exploring the RÉVÉLATIONS Series that includes fresh sounds like ELIASSE’s Zangoma rock that has emerged from the Comoro Islands or else the GLOBAL BEAT Series where listeners are sure to be blown away by DELGRES’ Caribbean blues, spiked with the dobro guitar and sousaphone… There’s truly something for everyone!

The 2023 programming is a reflection of the effervescence and vitality of the artists who are currently transforming Montreal and the planet musically: an ingenious balance of purely traditional rhythms with a modern expression influenced by the meeting of cultures. In a heartbeat, we are taken from the 13th century Mali Empire to Experimenting 2.0, Montreal-style; from the 40s’ Havana sound to that of the alternative British sound system scene. It instantly becomes clear how all these rhythms are interconnected, how we are all interconnected and that it is music that connects us, builds bridges, no matter where we are from.

Whether at the MTELUS, the National, Théâtre Fairmount, the Gesù, the Ministère or the legendary Club Balattou, a different musical experience is guaranteed every night.

6 DAYS OF FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS
July 18 to 23, 2023, at the Parterre du Quartier des spectacles and the Esplanade Tranquille

There are even more outstanding shows performed in turn on the two outdoor stages located in the Village des Nuits d’Afrique, at the Parterre du Quartier des spectacles and the Esplanade Tranquille. Throughout these six days, shows will be presented in succession in a festive crescendo that reaches its climax at the end of the evening. There will be tons of fresh music to discover every day from the local and international music scene, such as the latest creation from WAALHI (Haiti-Qc), 2023-2024 Révélation Radio-Canada, and DIOGO RAMOS (Brésil-Qc), or the exotic raï, chaoui and kabyle intonations revealed by AFIRKA (Algérie-Qc).

THE GRANDS ÉVÉNEMENTS AND WORLD PREMIERS

Every evening, the Festival’s GRANDS ÉVÉNEMENTS are presented on the TD-RADIO-CANADA stage, giving festivalgoers the chance to experience some of the biggest names in world music, including such stars as the Nigerian sensation, YEMI ALADE and the Ivorian MEIWAY, two sublime performers who no longer need any introduction.

Among the other notable events in this series are two major international premiers, namely the cosmopolitan THE BONGO HOP with NIDIA GÓNGORA, ambassador of Afro-Columbian music with a Pacific Coast vibe, and British-Gambian kora player, SONA JOBARTEH, who has broken with convention in the most beautiful of ways. These are just a hint of the amazing energy that awaits you in the Village des Nuits d’Afrique, where fun and discoveries are on the menu.

FEMMES DU MONDE

THAYNARA PÉRI, from Brazil, KANDY GUIRA, from Burkina Faso, CHIPO NYAMBIYA, from Zimbabwe… This series reminds us to what extent women are an integral part of the world music scene, vibrant performers, proud of their roots, embodying their cultures and the modernity at the same time. Every day on the LOTO-QUÉBEC stage at the Esplanade Tranquille, these amazing women artists will unfurl their talent with boundless energy, using their voices and other instruments to explore different tones and rhythms.

To see the complete line-up of concerts and to purchase tickets for indoor shows, visit: www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com