Chat and make music together with one of the greatest legends of world music! An unofficial ambassador of the Indian Ocean island of Réunion and the 2010 winner of the prestigious WOMEX Award for lifetime achievement, Danyèl Waro plays the maloya blues, the politically charged traditional music of the African slaves carried off to the island, with great intensity. Before his concert, there will be an opportunity - perhaps never to be repeated - to get to know him and his four-member band i...n an informal 'community meeting'.
Like the blues, maloya is a call-and-response style of singing that expresses the woes and tribulations of life. It is chiefly accompanied by rhythm instruments (the kayamb, roulér and pikér), with a few melodic instruments (particularly the stringed bob) also adding colour. Up until 1981, the style was banned as a form of self-expression on the island, an overseas department of France. Waro, who started off as an instrument maker, played a major role in the fact that maloya has been preserved and is flourishing and known around the world today. At this concert, the legendary musician will take the stage at the front of a five-member band. Opening for them will be Ann O'aro, whom he discovered, playing an updated form of maloya along with two accompanists on wind instruments. But before any of this starts, there will also be a unique workshop. Waro and his four accompanists will meet with the audience in an informal setting with no agenda planned in advance: those attending will be the ones to shape the content of the session, which will last from an hour to an hour-and-a-half. They will be able to ask questions, chat, and sing and play music with them - we will have drums and kayambas on hand for the communal music session.
The programme will be open to a maximum of 70 attendees, subject to advance registration.
Entry is free.