38th International Nuits d’Afrique Festival in Montreal

The 38th edition of the International Nuits d’Afrique Festival is underway in Montreal. The festival features African, Caribbean and Latin music and is considered to be one of the largest world music festivals in the world. 

“We’ve discovered groups all year long and we try and bring you the best during those 13 days,” said Suzanne Rousseau, director of the International Nuits d’Afrique Festival.

This year’s festival kicks off with a wide variety of paid shows in venues such as Club Balattou, Le Fairmount and Le Ministère. 

For six straight days starting on July 16th, the series of free outdoor shows begins in downtown Montreal on stages set up in the Quartier des Spectacles. The free concerts start at 3:30pm and run late into the evenings. 

“The outdoor portion is really important because this is where you can live the festival completely,” said Rouseau, adding, “you’ve got the two stages with a show going on one after the other on Parterre du Quartier des Spectacles and Esplanade Tranquille between Ontario Street and Saint Catherine on the corner at Saint Urbain.”

In total more than 700 artists from over 30 countries are performing at the International Nuits d’Afrique Festival, but there is more than just music as festivalgoers can also check out a market, food vendors as well as open-air dance workshops and activities for kids.

“Every day we start your day with a professional dance workshop either from Colombia, the Congo, every coast, from Brazil. Every day is a different dance workshop,” explained Rousseau.

A full list of the concert times and the artists performing as well as the activities and a site map can be found on the festival website. 

“People tell me it’s the first festival where my adolescent, my young adolescent and I will appreciate the same group,” said Rousseau. “For me, that’s really important because then they’ll live an experience together that maybe they’ll never forget even as they grow older.