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Nuits d’Afrique Sound System – World 2.0

February 10, 2012

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This Friday night, the Society for Arts and Technology will host Nuits d'Afrique Sound System. It's further evidence of the Africa-mania that has quietly spread to DJs and turntables around the world over the past few years.

by Félix Larose
A long way from the sunshine of Dakar and Abuja, Frédéric Korvadec – who handles international programming for Productions Nuits d'Afrique – spoke with us from Saint-Laurent Boulevard, talking about the genesis of a series that kicked off just last year at Festival Nuits d'Afrique.

“We've been thinking about creating this kind of event for a few years now, but to launch a project like this you need to team up and find a strong public for it. Last year, we got a proposal from the Masala Sono collective and we jumped at the chance to develop a concept that's adapted to the true spirit of World 2.0, Nuits d'Afrique Sound System.”

NUITS D'AFRIQUE SOUND SYSTEM

After the encouraging success of a Festival weekend dedicated entirely to Nuits d'Afrique Sound System events, the organizers are repeating the experience again this winter with the goal of firmly putting a World Electro rendez-vous on Montreal's cutural map. And the cream on the latte is that it will be totally free to attend – a rarity at the SAT.

Between the mixes from Montreal's own Masala Sono collective that will open and close the night, DJ Chief Boima from New York and Ngâbo from Congo will share the tables while Haitian rapper Mr. OK rocks the mic. VJ Jérôme Delapierre will take charge of visual effects, and the uniquely well-equipped space at the SAT is a paradise for visual designers.

“It's a space dedicated to electronic music. That's their primary mission, and they have all of the equipment, both sound and visual, to create an immersive environment. We're really happy to be able to take advantage of this hall for the event, and, at the same time, to offer it to the public for free.”

From the return of Fela Kuti's Afrobeat sound to the latest Beyoncé instrumentals, mother Africa isn't done making us dance. Even if world music is typically linked with tradition, the electronic generation isn't hung up on the past. Welcome to World 2.0.

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