The 40th edition of the Montreal International Nuits d’Afrique Festival ended on Sunday as it began on July 7: in style, honoring four decades of world music in Montreal in an electrifying and emotionally charged atmosphere. From the opening concert of the sublime Malian diva Oumou Sangaré at the MTelus to the closing show of the essential Ivorian reggaeman Tiken Jah Fakoly on the large TD stage of the Parterre in the Quartier des spectacles, this anniversary edition kept all its promises.
The spontaneous words of Djely Tapa, leaving the main TD stage on Sunday evening, speak volumes about the pride and feeling of belonging of the artists to the great Nuits d’Afrique family. “It is for you that we are here today, to pay tribute to everything you have given us, to support you as you support us”. Because once again, Nuits d’Afrique has demonstrated that traditions are alive, uninhibited, engaged, innovative, looking to the future, global and that, fortunately, Montreal is at the heart of this dynamic. Forty years after its creation, Nuits d’Afrique not only celebrates its history; it celebrates the vitality of a world in motion.
Confirming the essential role of the Festival, a true incarnation of the diversity, openness and living together that make Montreal so rich, the public responded in large numbers. Throughout the concerts, festival-goers have traveled (a lot!). They vibrated with world music legends, danced to the sound of emerging artists, experienced beautiful emotions, shared strong moments and – ABOVE ALL – celebrated the meeting of cultures. They recalled with joy the notable moments of past editions while creating new memories that offer a glimpse of a future that lives up to the legacy of the last 40 years. Among these memorable moments is the song Unis par les Nuits, an anthem to the Festival composed by Meiway and sung in unison and with fervor by a multitude of artists from here and elsewhere, just before the grand finale.
Likewise, numerous local and international media outlets have highlighted the historical importance of the Festival and its lasting social impact, evidenced by its exceptional longevity. Reports and interviews were notably broadcast by TV5 Monde, Radio France Internationale, France 24, Radio Nova, Radio-Canada, to name but a few, highlighting the unique place that Nuits d’Afrique occupies in the cultural landscape and saluting its contribution to the promotion of artists from Africa, the West Indies and Latin America.
A large-scale program Since its creation, Nuits d’Afrique has allowed many international artists to meet the Montreal public, while contributing to the emergence of local artists. Many people were present to blow out its 40 candles, many of whom have a long-standing history and a particular attachment to the event. Some 700 artists from around thirty countries animated these 13 days of celebration.
An indelible moment among all, the exceptional show bringing together Sia Tolno, Degg J, AK, Manamba Kanté and Soul Bang’s, organized by the Republic of Guinea in recognition of the contribution of Lamine Touré, founding president of Nuits d’Afrique and himself a Guinean, to the promotion of cultures of African descent. The “night baobab of Montreal” received an ovation worthy of the greatest. Like their Guinean counterparts, the Griots of Montreal, led by Djely Tapa, sang the praises of Lamine Touré during a high-intensity concert at Club Balattou. The magic happened. The atmospheres followed one another and the highlights multiplied in the 6 performance halls which hosted the Festival. Absolutely all the artists won over the public, who came in huge numbers.
Oumou Sangaré, « one of the greatest contemporary voices on the African continent », « inaugurated the festival with enthusiasm » (Le Devoir) at the MTelus before receiving, the next day, the Nuits d’Afrique prize for the Francophonie at Montreal City Hall, with the presence of Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada. The voodoo rock of the Beninese of BIM, with its bells, its claps and its electro guitar, bewitched the audience. Fairmount Theater. As usual, the Night of the Kora, this year with Yamoussa Bangoura and Senny Camara, enchanted Gésu music lovers, leading them to discover the soul of West Africa. And what can we say about the finesse, fluidity and power of the duo bringing together Kiya Tabassian (sétâr) and Ablaye Cissoko (kora), also presented at Gésu. A suspended moment, which felt good. The public, which filled the National, took the full measure of the talent of the committed and spontaneous chaâbi singer, Labess, who became an international star after making his debut at Nuits d’Afrique, two decades ago.
Festival-goers took pleasure in meeting the laughing and gentle Guyanese poet Chris Combette at Club Balattou. Wesli, whom the Festival has seen grow over the last 25 years, and Tonton Idriss, who has become the uncle of the Nuits d’Afrique family, have worthily fulfilled their roles as ambassadors by offering high-quality concerts as part of the “Les Étoiles” series, whose concept, focused on meetings, embodies the spirit of the event.
For this 40th edition, the Festival has expanded the territory of the Village des Nuits d’Afrique, in the Quartier des spectacles, by occupying Sainte-Catherine Street for the first time, in addition to the Parterre du Quartier des spectacles and the Esplanade Tranquille. The space was perfectly designed to make passers-by want to discover the event in more detail. Every day, from July 14 to 19, this free portion of the event was full of visitors. What could be more delightful than seeing this mixed family audience live to the rhythm of the Festival, taking the time to savor a typical dish on the Promenade des Saveurs, discovering the little wonders of the artisans at the Timbuktu Market or attending a dance or music performance at the Cabaret des Nuits d’Afrique? Than to see the youngest running from one activity to another at the Radio-Canada Children’s Village, a big smile on their lips, made up as a lion or a butterfly, marveling at the wanderings of the street acrobats of Kalabanté or the sublime colored light projections which, at nightfall, animated the facades of the surrounding buildings in the history of the event? Than to see all these beautiful people gathering in good humor in front of the stages from the first notes of each show? The Village des Nuits d’Afrique is not complicated, it’s a real feast for the senses!
The Festival team is proud to have offered the public an ambitious and diverse free outdoor program. Unforgettable shows took place on the Grand TD stage and on the Loto-Québec stage.
At the end of the evening, the Great TD Events literally brought the crowd to their feet. Afrique en Cirque by Kalabanté opened the ball with an impressive new circus performance, full of color, drums and acrobatics, brilliantly responding to the request of Lamine Touré, always close to the artists, to deliver a truly spectacular show. To the sound of Systema Solar, the Colombian community transformed the Parterre into a huge dance floor. The words of Fulu Miziki, committed to the protection of the environment, resonated strongly with the public. Admiral T, well known to reggae-dancehall fans for 3 decades, was eagerly awaited by the public who took full advantage of it. The artist took the opportunity to take a walk in the crowd, to the greatest pleasure of all! The legends of Tabou Combo, true to themselves, made us forget the afternoon rain with their incandescent kompa, making the audience sing along. And to end in apotheosis, Tiken Jah Fakoly came on stage with all the aura we recognize from him, his verve, his exceptional musicians and his sincere attachment for 25 years to Nuits d’Afrique for a set that we will not soon forget.
On the Loto-Québec stage, on the Esplanade Tranquille, we will note, among other things, the strong presence of female artists proud of their roots, bearers of their cultures and a fully assumed commitment, which Nuits d’Afrique has never ceased to put forward: Suraras Do Tapajós, Sahra Halgan, Somos Más, Joyce N’Sana or Elida Almeida are among them. What a pleasure too to find these “oldies”: Élage Diouf with the Sissokho Brothers, Taafé Fanga, Kizaba, Aboulaye Koné, Lorraine Klaasen or Diblo Dibala, who have lost none of their energy or their talent! Equally pleasing to see young artists emerging, like Kanazoé Orkestra, making its grand premiere in Montreal, or Zalam Kao, winner of the Syli d’or 2026.
We cannot list everything that made us (you) vibrate but, truly, these 40 years of Nuits d’Afrique, built with passion, have embodied everything that their creator, who we nickname Petit Touré but who has all the makings of a great, had imagined from the start: an event which celebrates with humanity the meeting of cultures, artists from here and elsewhere, shared music, unifying dance… the spirit of “village celebration”. We are already looking forward to meeting again for the 41st edition, from JULY 6 TO 18, 2027.
AcknowledgmentsWithout its partners, who deeply believe in its mission, the Montreal International Nuits d’Afrique Festival could not fully be this emblematic Montreal event. Also, the whole team would like to warmly thank them.
