Nowadays, the Indian Ocean is very multicultural:
African, Malagasy, Arabic, Indian and European influences
meet and mingle as a colourful, manifold, and often inextricable,
combination of cultures. The small selection of performances
in this programme can only offer you a glimpse, but they will
open a few windows and may even make some of you want to discover
more for yourselves.
Politically, Reunion and Mayotte are certainly
French. Culturally, however, they are places where one can
come across everything and discover every kind of Creoleness...
As for Madagascar (to which we devote two evenings): this
big island is an incredibly rich land, not only in terms of
its largely unique fauna and flora, but also in terms of its
culture and music, which are certainly not lacking in originality
and diversity.
This series of concerts, complemented by
two films and a lecture, will also be an opportunity to pursue
fruitful collaboration between Geneva and Meyrin: the final
evening will be a “Maison du Monde” (a cultural
immersion event) devoted to Madagascar, held at the Théâtre
Forum Meyrin.
Mayotte’s strong Islamic influence
invites us to discover Sufi songs and dances called debaa,
performed exclusively by women and girls. Dressed in their
traditional white finery, the women perform their choreographed
swaying to the rhythm of drums. Sometimes sitting, sometimes
standing, their movements evoke those of ocean waves in a
long ripple of sinuous curves. A chorus picks up the soloist’s
melody, accompanied by the rhythmic and varied timbres of
an all-female ensemble of percussionists.
Théâtre
de l’Alhambra
10, rue de la Rôtisserie – Genève
Conférence
Indian Ocean: Historical connections
and musical affinities
par Victor Randrianary
While very different, the inhabitants of the western Indian
Ocean islands have a shared history and, to some extent, a
shared culture. Madagascar and the Comoros are ancient civilisations
that are the result of numerous influences, while the history
of the so-called Creole islands (Reunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues
and the Seychelles) only dates back to the colonial period.
The ethnomusicologist Victor Randrianary will be presenting
an overview of his studies of the music of Madagascar, the
Comoros, Mayotte as well as maloya music and Mahoran dances
from Reunion.
Vendredi 7 mai, 20h30
Théâtre de l’Alhambra
10, rue de la Rôtisserie – Genève
SALALA et TIHAREA
Première
partie :
SALALA
Mbasalàla Zafimaneva dit M’Bassa
: chant, danse
Bereziky : chant, luth kabôsy, danse
Benjamin Casimir dit Kazy : chant, hochet katsa, tambour
langoro, danse
Extrait audio
Salala and Tiharea are two trios: one male
and one female. Their music is rooted in the culture of southern
Madagascar, particularly in that of the Antandroy people.
Founded in 1983 by M'Bassa, Salala offers creative music (sometimes
a cappella or accompanied by a lute or percussion) that is
influenced by old folk songs, especially beko.
The female trio, Tiharea, offers splendid
polyphony with astonishing vocal effects. Through their singing,
they describe the situation of women in Malagasy society.
For them, singing is a remedy against such evils as jealousy
or cowardice.
Vidéo Tiharea
Samedi 8 mai, 18h30
Théâtre
de l’Alhambra
10, rue de la Rôtisserie – Genève
Cinéma : LIGNE
PARADIS
Film de Luc Bongrand
(2004 - France – 53’)
A journey to the heart of once-forbidden
maloya percussion with Firmin Viry: a musician with a hint
of shamanism who straddles several cultures (African, Malagasy,
Indian and European) and embodies the openness to otherness
that is at the heart of Reunion’s soul. The film explores
several levels: the development and transmission of an identity,
and a journey into the imaginary across space.
Samedi
8 mai, 20h30
Théâtre
de l’Alhambra
10, rue de la Rôtisserie – Genève
Sega is one of the main genres of music in
Reunion and elsewhere in the Indian Ocean. It originated with
slaves and became influenced by the quadrille danced by plantation
owners.
An icon of Reunion’s music scene, René
Lacaille is an internationally well-known songwriter and composer
who also plays a multitude of instruments. His love of the
rhythms of a mixed heritage is evident in his explosive concert:
he blends traditional themes, based on sega or maloya, and
flirts with the blues, samba and other moving types of music.
Film de Marie-Clémence
et César Paes (1989 – France – 63’)
Marie-Clémence and César Paes
have chosen a highly original form of narrative. The stories
that the inhabitants tell blend with the snapshots of life
captured in the film. The intimacy between the filmmakers
and people allows us to share moments of intense emotion.
They open doors to a previously unknown culture. The images
are of a rare beauty and plunge us into the heart of Malagasy
traditions: how Heaven and Earth fought about mankind; why
rice came to the island; how assets are divided between men
and women. With humour and tenderness, the film offers a journey
between reality and the imaginary in a way that gives an insight
into Malagasy culture through the oral tradition.
Ny Malagasy Orkestra presents ten creative
musicians from Madagascar. It is conducted by Justin Vali,
who is considered to be the greatest contemporary master of
the valiha, a bamboo zither. Each member offers a specific
regional aspect of the country’s musical tradition while
building upon each other to offer a lively and creative concert.
The concert ticket includes the film, Angano
Angano, and an opportunity to sample Madagascar’s culinary
specialities.
Le billet d’entrée
du concert donne accès au film et à un buffet-dégustation
de spécialités malgaches à 19h30
Founded in Geneva in 1983, Ateliers d’ethnomusicologie
(ADEM) is a cultural association dedicated to world music
and dance. Throughout the year, it offers concerts and festivals,
lessons and courses, as well as activities for young people.
It also produces books and CDs and supports migrant musicians
who live in the region.
Programmation : Laurent Aubert,
en collaboration avec Victor Randrianary Suivi de production : Inge Sjollema Administration : Nicole Wicht Site internet : Astrid Stierlin Documentation, audio et vidéo :
Fabrice Contri Photographies : Zinaha Andriambololoniaina,
Thierry Bongarts Lebbe, Aurelia Sevestre, Willy Vainqueur,
d.r. Technique son : Hans Fuchs Technique : Equipe de l’Alhambra Partenaire : Théâtre Forum
Meyrin Graphisme : Tassilo
ALHAMBRA
Prix des places :
35.- FS Plein tarif
25.- FS Membres ADEM, AMR & Amdathtra, Amis du SAMEG,
chômeurs, AVS
15.- FS Etudiants, jeunes
10.- FS Enfants jusqu’à 12 ans, carte 20 ans/20
francs
Location : Service Culturel
Migros, Stand info Balexert ; Migros Nyon-La Combe Billetterie en ligne :
www.forum-meyrin.ch Renseignements : tél. 022 989 34
34
Concerts organisés avec le soutien du Département
de la culture de la Ville de Genève, du Département
de l'instruction publique de l'Etat de Genève, de
la Direction du Développement et de la Coopération
DDC