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"On Rassembleman" Concert by the Racine Caraïbe Collective
This one-hour concert showcases the rhythms, songs, and dances of Guadeloupe and Haiti. The first half is dedicated to Guadeloupe and Gwo-ka, featuring rhythms such as Léwoz, Toumblak, Mendé, Graj, and Mass à Saint-Jean. On stage: René Burin on the boula drum, Roger Raspail on the makè drum, Annette Nicolas on vocals and chacha, and singer Gildas Lutin, with her powerful yet gentle voice. The audience is invited to join in the procession and dance. The second part is dedicated to Haiti, featuring Yanvalou, Rabordaille, Rara, and Petro. Master drummer Kébyésou performs the great classics of Haitian voodoo, and dancer Nerlande Bazelais draws the audience into her mesmerizing dances, so that everyone can share in the energy of this tradition.
Dates and times
Sunday, October 11, 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Address
Marseille Wharf, Eure Basin
The concert will last one hour and will feature an alternating mix of songs, dances, and music from Guadeloupe and Haiti.
For the Guadeloupean, Lewose, Toumblack Mendé graje, and Mass à St. Jen will be part of Guadeloupe’s repertoire.
Alongside the great tambouyé René Burin at the Boula and Roger Raspail on the mawkè, Annette Nicolas will dance in the chorus and perform the cha-cha; Gildas, the singer with her powerful yet gentle voice, will perform classics from the Gwo-ka repertoire, and we’ll invite the audience to join us in a parade and dance with us
Yanvalou, Rabodaï, Rara, and Pétro will make up the repertoire for the Haitian segment. Master drummer Kébyésou, a renowned ceremonial drummer, will lead the performance and interpret the great classics of Haitian Voodoo, while ceremonial dancer Nerlande Bazelais will captivate the audience with her mesmerizing dances, encouraging them to join in and fully embrace the energy of this tradition.
Caribbean Roots Collective
The Racine Caraïbe collective is made up of six artists—three women and three men.
Annette Nicolas: vocals, percussion, and dance; Gildas Lutin: lead vocals and dance; Nerlande Bazelais: backing vocals, percussion, and dance; René Burin: Boula drum and backing vocals; Jean-Mary Louissaint: lead vocals and Haitian drum; and Roger Raspail: mawkè drum and backing vocals.
The project is led by Roger Raspail, a percussionist, state-certified traditional music teacher, and winner of the award for Best French Percussionist for the 2023–2024 season, as named by Jazz News and Jazz Magazine.
The Collective has performed at numerous venues and festivals in France and across Europe, demonstrating its solid experience in live performance and cultural initiatives.
Concert at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris’s Marais district for the Afrikada Journal, the Malakoff Arts Center, Le Cabaret Sauvage at Porte de la Villette, the Cité de la Musique, the Philharmonie de Paris at Porte de Pantin, the “La 1ère la Fleur Belle de Mai” Festival in Marseille, the Mougins City Photography Center for the “Black is Beautiful” exhibition, Metro 54 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and at the Tamanoir in Gennevilliers. Through its productions, the Racine Caraïbe collective celebrates the musical and choreographic traditions of the islands in a spirit of sharing, passing on traditions, and connecting with audiences.
