I\u2019ve rarely seen the MTelus so packed to the brim. And it was mostly the Guinean community that turned out for the tribute to the \u201cBaobab of the Night,\u201d the Great Lamine Tour\u00e9. For the occasion, the program featured a lineup of popular artists from Guinea and beyond, each drawing their own fan base and making the celebration truly spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hosted by Brazilian singer and TV personality B\u00efa, who kept the crowd energized, the evening was elevated by a house band of exceptional musicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a few speeches by several officials who had traveled all the way from Guinea for this tribute, the first scheduled artist took the stage to cheers from the young people in the audience. It was Degg J, who kicked things off with a bang, each song more popular than the last. The energy built to a crescendo, peaking with a track the entire audience knew by heart, as he occasionally blended dancehall and Latin rhythms into his repertoire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between performances, B\u00efa even had time to get the audience singing in Portuguese while the musicians set up for the Guinean and Sierra Leonean artist Sia Tolno. Kicking off with the song \u201cL\u2019homme qui vient de loin\u201d (The Man Who Comes from Far Away)\u2014which alluded somewhat to Lamine Tour\u00e9\u2014she opened the show with her signature African blues style while showcasing her talents as a dancer. \u201cJust like everywhere else in the world, we\u2019re calling for unity,\u201d she said between songs. She took the opportunity to include a breathtaking solo by the Senegalese-Malian guitarist Amady Sidib\u00e8\u2014who\u2019s in high demand in Montreal\u2014which particularly delighted the audience, who had been eagerly awaiting his standout moments throughout the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it was AK\u2019s arrival on stage that particularly surprised me, as he was welcomed like an icon. I could compare him to a Guinean version of Tayc, given his musical style and his \u201clover\u201d persona. Very popular among young people\u2014especially young women\u2014he set the MTelus ablaze, getting the audience to sing along to every one of his songs. Many of his songs are hits, and he even went so far as to add some Senegalese mbalax to his repertoire. I have a feeling this artist will return to Montreal for a longer concert, judging by the impact he had on his fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final performance\u2014the one many had been waiting for\u2014was, of course, the legendary duo Soul Bang\u2019s and Manamba Kant\u00e9, but before that, the great diva Oumou Sangar\u00e9, who opened the 40th edition, took the stage to honor Mr. Lamine Tour\u00e9. Accompanied by high-ranking officials from Guinea, festival co-founder Suzanne Rousseau, and artists such as Djely Tapa, this icon of African music received the highest honors\u2014including speeches, gifts, and a commemorative plaque\u2014to highlight her enormous contribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then it was time for a final, colorful performance, combining the repertoire of Soul Bang\u2019s with that of his wife, Manamba Kant\u00e9, to treat us to a medley of their greatest hits. While one supported the other, depending on the song, it was when they came together on stage that the chemistry between these two artists was truly evident. As Manamba\u2019s unique voice echoed through the concert hall, Soul Bang\u2019s charmed us with his improvisations\u2014sometimes in English\u2014and his infectious energy. Together, they performed songs about women, love, and struggle, blending tradition and modernity through Guinean rhythms and occasional dancehall beats. They also paid tribute to Manamba\u2019s father, the late Mory Kant\u00e9, with a cover of \u201cYeke Yeke\u201d\u2014a highlight of the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cBaobab de Nuit\u201d surely felt this recognition from his peers in Montreal and Guinea during this tribute evening, even though he\u2019s used to staying in the shadows. But when you\u2019ve built a festival that\u2019s celebrating its 40th anniversary, you can no longer stay in the shadows\u2014you have to accept being celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019ve rarely seen the MTelus so packed to the brim. And it was mostly the Guinean community that turned out for the tribute to the \u201cBaobab of the Night,\u201d the Great Lamine Tour\u00e9. For the occasion, the program featured a lineup of popular artists from Guinea and beyond, each drawing their own fan base and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1468,"featured_media":161583,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[8152],"tags":[9396],"genre":[4272,9415,8401],"salle":[7029],"ville":[7246],"class_list":["post-161618","gig_review","type-gig_review","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-critiques-de-concerts-en","tag-festival-nuits-dafrique-en","genre-african","genre-afro-pop-africain-en","genre-mandingo-blues","salle-mtelus-en","ville-montreal-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n