African Culture in Paris?

[EvanP]

We're planning a trip to France in May with about a week in Paris. We're already planning on checking out the Louvre's African exhibit and the Branly. Are there some good venues to watch West African music/dancing? Are there any other places in France with a West African vibe we should visit?

Thanks,
Evan

[Paul]

Hi Evan,

I have some friends there that are involved in the scene and are very good players... Get back to me closer to the time and I will contact them and see if anything going on the days in question...

There is also www.djembefola.fr

Cheers.

Paul

[EvanP]

Paul,
I have a account request in to djembefola.fr, but haven't gotten the account verification yet. James also recommended donaba, but I haven't figured out how to turn on the translation feature yet Definitely need to work on my French in the next two months!

I'd hoped to be able to be in Paris for the solstice festival on 21June, but didn't plan ahead well enough.


Thanks!

Evan

[Paul]

The fete de la music on the 21st would be great, music everywhere (hmm good idea)... My friends will deffinatly play for that... I think Moussa Oulare is in Paris alot..

[EvanP]

I'll PM you when the time gets closer. In the mean time hopefully my account on djembefola.fr will come through (weird that it's not instantaneous--maybe they do a background check for French blood? )

[bops]

May is a great time to visit Paris. Weather should be nice and there will be a lot happening. The African and Oceanic art wing of the Louvre is cool, and definitely worth checking out.

There's plenty of African music, dance and art in Paris; tons of artists immigrate there. I don't know that there's a single club or hotspot that specializes in African music (there's a place called Taxi Mandingue in Brussels), though certain neighborhoods are predominantly African - Belleville, Ménilmontant, and Barbès. The flea market at Porte de Clignancourt feels like an African market.

I once saw Adama Drame and Foliba at a place called Le Trabendo, but there are plenty of spots like that throughout the city. I would check out http://www.pariscope.fr before your trip, or write this guy: http://bennloxo.com/.

[EvanP]

Bops,
Thanks. Those are great tips.

My djembefola.fr account finally got authorized, but it appears it's still too early for postings, as there's not much listed yet for May.

Evan

[Michel]

Bops wrote:

(there's a place called Taxi Mandingue in Brussels)

Brussels is the capital of Belgium, at least 4 hours drive from Paris. And it's not a club, it's an organization.

[EvanP]

Michel,
I figured I'd skip the Belgium road trip (never cared for their sprouts , although I do like Leffe!)

Evan

[bubudi]

i think their drumming, chocolate and beer more than make up for their sprouts

have you tried directly contacting mike at djembefola.fr, or stef from donaba.net?

[EvanP]

I traded email with Mike to get my djembefola.fr account set up (which worked with a bit of admin intervention), but I haven't contacted Stef yet. I figured I'd wait until the end of April or so and contact Mike, Stef, Paul, et al. Hopefully the venues will be booked by then and I can figure out when and where to go.

[kawa]

Hi,

THE place to go to is the "Parc de la Villette", especially during weekends when the weather is hot. Plenty of skilled players go there (artists from Circus Baobab, for example).
Also plenty of great players go visit the park.
Definitely worth checking out, only when the weather is good though.

Also the site donaba.net has all the infos, it is the hub for West African drumming (check the "Agenda" and "Annonces" section).

Kawa
http://kawatvinternational.wordpress.com/
http://kawatv.wordpress.com/

[EvanP]

Thanks Kawa! We're getting very excited--will be there in two weeks.