During three days, the Marseille festival, which ended on March 21st, showcased the modernity of the current world music scene. From the reinvented Occitan traditions by Cocanha to the intensity of Neapolitan songs by Lavinia Mancusi.
Since its revival three years ago, the Babel Music XP festival has made Marseille a new hub for world music, attracting 1800 industry professionals to the Belle de Mai Friche. The public, after several changes, is still welcomed at La Plateforme, the former Dock des Suds. The festival also introduced emerging talents in various venues in the city center. From March 19th to 21st, the demanding and surprising fourth edition combined world music genres.
Not always for the best, but with at least one new explosion each night: from the invigorating Etenesh Wassi, who raised the fever with her Ethiopian freeform, to the techno duo Article15 led by DRC’s Wilfried Luzele (from Lova Lova) and French producer GriGri (from Gargantua), who closed the festival with a powerful performance.
“A Political Space”
In between, several socially conscious groups have redefined the concept of popular music by blending ancient traditions with contemporary sounds to appeal to a wide audience. “We, who enjoy pop songs sung at the top of our lungs in the car, want to bring Occitan back to people’s lips and hearts,” explained Caroline Dufau and Lila Fraysse, the virtuoso singers of Cocanha. They learned the language of their grandparents in Calandreta schools, where language learning is immersive, and turned it into an inventive repertoire.
Musical Transformations
The Toulouse duo shone on stage on Friday night, showcasing colorful embroidery, elegant designer outfits, and captivating performances that broke free from traditional rural stereotypes. By leaving behind the “vergonha,” a shame instilled since the 19th century to stigmatize regional dialects, they revamped the beatbox rhythms and transformed traditional Gascon tunes using stomp boxes. This was all part of their upcoming album “Flame Folclòre” (“flamboyant folklore”), a manifesto of sorts.
Throughout the festival, artists like Italy’s Lavinia Mancusi and the Portuguese electro-folk duo Bandua used music to explore their political and cultural identities, mixing ancient traditions with modern beats. These performances not only entertained the audience but also paved the way for a promising future in the realm of ever-evolving folklore.
Each artist, from Cocanha to Lavinia Mancusi, brought a unique perspective on creative expression through music, showcasing the diversity and depth of world music at the Babel Music XP festival in Marseille.
