(Photo credit: André Rival – Source: FB Nuits d’Afrique)
In Montreal, the big man Lamine Touré has contributed for four decades to making the richness of African artistic expressions known to a vast Canadian audience. Former dancer and choreographer of the National Ballet of Guinea, Lamine Touré arrived in Quebec in 1974 and, in his purse, this happy disposition to make African music known in North America. In 1985, with Suzanne Rousseau, he launched Balattou which, over the years, has become a true institution for world music in Montreal. Still with his friend, in 1987 he founded the Nuits d’Afrique International Festival, which this year celebrates 40 years of music from Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. This outstanding ambassador of African culture is known for his commitment to emerging artists and his passion for creating bridges between cultures and peoples. Its rich programming allowed many African musicians to perform for the first time in North America.
The MTelus cabaret room, in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, vibrated on Saturday evening to the rhythm of Guinean sounds during a tribute evening dedicated to Lamine Touré. Organized under the patronage of the Guinean Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Crafts, and through the Arts and Culture Development Fund (FODAC), this evening brought together several great figures of Guinean music to celebrate a man who, for more than forty years, has contributed to the influence of African cultures in Quebec and North America.
In his speech, the general director of FODAC, Malick Kébé, introduced to the public by the host of the evening, the Brazilian artist Bïa Krieger, stressed that this tribute is intended to be recognition of: « a compatriot who makes us proud », and of his remarkable contribution to the international influence of Guinean and African culture. He recalled that Lamine Touré’s career illustrates the role that culture can play as a vector of dialogue between peoples and as a lever of development for artists on the African continent.
In front of a packed and captivated gallery, the artists Degg J, Sia Tolno, AK, Manamba Kanté and Soul Bang’s took turns on stage in a festive and wild atmosphere, offering the public a musical journey between Mandinka traditions, Afro-pop, reggae, rap and contemporary urban music. Each, in their own way, paid a vibrant tribute to the one whom many affectionately nickname “the baobab” of African culture in Montreal. Alongside the Guinean artists, the Malian diva Oumou Sangaré also took part in this tribute evening, whose presence added a special shine to this event.
On stage, the artists performed in front of a charmed audience, who moved to the rhythm of each piece. Sia Tolno, known for her social commitment and the power of her voice, offered a vibrant performance, combining traditional rhythms and contemporary sounds. The charming duo formed by Soul Bang’s and Manamba Kanté, emblematic figures of the Guinean music scene, ignited MTelus with several of their hits. For their part, rappers Degg J and AK brought a resolutely urban and modern energy to this celebration of Guinean music. The emotion was palpable when several artists testified to the influence that Lamine Touré had on their careers. Many of them recalled that Nuits d’Afrique was their first major international stage, opening the way to a career beyond African borders.
By celebrating Lamine Touré, Guinea is paying tribute to a man whose work goes far beyond the framework of a festival; it is, in fact, that of a cultural broker who builds bridges between peoples and transmits heritage between generations. This memorable evening has a strong symbolic significance and testifies to the recognition of a country, even a continent, towards one of its most influential cultural ambassadors abroad.
Sofiane Idir
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