Senegalese artist Alune Wade, a major figure in contemporary African jazz, is launching an ambitious multidisciplinary project titled "New African Orleans."
This artistic and historical project, bridging Africa and Louisiana, combines music, film, historical research, and education. It will be officially launched in Senegal from May 22 to 30, between Dakar and Saint-Louis, before embarking on an international tour.
"I've been nurturing this project for over ten years," the bassist said in an interview with APS. "It is the culmination of a long artistic and personal journey, enriched by collaborations, travels, and reflections on African musical heritage," he continued.
"New African Orleans" is both a studio album, a musical documentary titled "Tukki, From Roots to Bayou," and a series of conferences and public performances.
This transcontinental project traces the connections between African and African-American music, particularly jazz, drawing on the history of the transatlantic slave trade and cultural resistances.
The album was recorded in several historically significant locations, including Dakar, Gorée, Saint-Louis (Senegal), Lagos and Badagry (Nigeria), New Orleans (USA), and Accra (Ghana).
"We wanted to film in these places that bear the scars of the transatlantic slave trade, but also the roots of a living and vibrant culture," explains the artist.
Released by the German labels Enja and Yellowbird, the album blends the sounds of New Orleans brass bands, traditional West African rhythms, and Afrobeat influences. It brings together musicians from various backgrounds including Senegal, Nigeria, the Caribbean (French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe), and the United States.
The project also includes a scientific and educational program, with conferences on the links between history, music, and memory.
"Music, culture, and education go hand in hand. That’s why it’s important to involve researchers as well," the musician emphasizes.
The official launch of "New African Orleans" will take place in Senegal, "so that the project is first shared here, with the Senegalese people," says the artist. The film premiere is scheduled for May 22 at 8:00 PM at Pathé Dakar Cinema, followed by a concert on May 23 at 8:30 PM at the French Institute of Dakar.
On May 24, a conference will be held at the Museum of Black Civilizations on the topic "The History of Man and Jazz from West Africa to New Orleans."
On May 29, Alune Wade will perform at the 33rd edition of the Saint-Louis International Jazz Festival, on the Baya Ndar Square stage.